Cop commits suicide by shooting himself
A POLICE sergeant from Kimberley apparently committed suicide by shooting himself with his service pistol.
Sergeant Johan van Deventer, 37, a gunsmith at the SAPS, was found dead at his residence in Green Street, West End, on Friday night after apparently shooting himself.
Kimberley police yesterday confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened following the incident where Van Deventer was found dead at his residence with a gunshot wound.
While it is believed that Van Deventer’s service pistol was used during the incident, police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said yesterday that an investigation to determine whether his service pistol was used was “still ongoing”.
“We will only have that information once the investigation has been concluded. The circumstances around his death are still unknown,” Tawana said.
A long-time friend of Van Deventer, who matriculated at Elizabeth Conradie School, said yesterday that he was “left with many questions” following the incident.
“While he was going through some relationship issues, I did not know Johan as someone who would do this (commit suicide). He was someone who was not scared to face challenges head on,” the friend, who attended pre-primary, primary and high school with Van Deventer in Kimberley, said.
He fondly remembered many instances of getting up to “clean” mischief with Van Deventer and described him as an adventurous, creative person who would always be “digging and scratching around”, looking for material to convert and to create something else with.
“However, it wasn’t always fun and games, as Johan was someone you could count on if anything needed to be done – he was always willing to get involved and help where he could,” he said.
Messages of condolences were yesterday shared on Van Deventer’s Facebook page, with Tjaart Coetzee posting the following: “We walked a path from the time of cloth nappies and landlines, that now ends in sorrow and smartphones. Times of mischief, school hostel and lots of laughing. Nothing, but lights-out and curtains, could divide us.
“There comes a time that everyone must walk their own path, everyone with their own pain and experiences. Not only friends but brothers, each fighting their own demons. We all have our names but between us we have our nicknames.
“The world is wide and times are tough, each of us on our own road with many lanes. While we saw each other only seldom, when we did, no one would would ever say it was the first time in years.
“I received news that my friend was dead -– it must have been a very difficult decision but you decided to rather go and rest. You being gone, not being there on the other side of my phone call, was a huge shock.
“I am left with many questions but also with the knowledge that my friend is now at peace. You were my friend and a child of God, who now came to get you as you are His. Miss you Kruppel, miss you brother,” the (translated) post read.