Ex-Bok hooker shot while fighting off gang
FORMER Springbok hooker and rugby coach Naka Drotske was shot three times during an armed robbery in Pretoria on Thursday night.
Drotske used his rugby skills to save family and friends, shielding the group by putting himself scrum-like on the line.
He is in a stable condition in Netcare Montana Hospital intensive care.
According to Ian Cameron, who heads up AfriForum’s community safety section, and was among those present during the attack, Drotske had shielded the group in a brave and selfless act that could have cost him his life.
They said he flew across a table and “scrummed” the three attackers out the door.
“With his arms interlocked and his head down, (he went) between the attackers and pushed forward against them until they were out of the house. It was like a scrum which saved the members of the family.”
Fellow Bok Os du Randt was also present and escaped injury.
SA Rugby Legends Association (Sarla) chief executive and former Springboks and Sharks player, Stefan Terblanche, expressed his shock and horror at the attack.
“We wish Naka a speedy recovery, and our prayers and thoughts are with him and the families and close friends of both Naka and Os (du Randt).
“It’s a sad day for South Africa when two of the men who represented our country at the highest level and showed such commitment and dedication on the sports field come under attack like this.
“Let’s hope all South Africans will take notice of these cowards and elements of our society who are doing everything to derail our great country.
“On a personal level, I am deeply saddened and appalled, but do know this – you won’t knock our rugby community and family down.”
Sarla is involved in the development of new players, while also supporting former rugby players in time of need.
Drotske, who represented the Boks in 26 Tests and was a member of the 1995 World Cup-winning squad, was visiting his brother, Tinus’s, smallholding in Kameeldrift, north of Pretoria, when the robbers surprised them.
They had been working on business deals throughout the day and went to Tinus’s home to unwind.
They had finished braaiing, at about 9.15pm, and were ready to go inside the house when the attackers struck.
A woman tried to close the lounge security door, but the men pounced on her and forced their way in. Drotske, who had been sitting at the lounge table near the security gate, flipped the table and pushed the men out the door.
“It was a big scuffle, almost like a scrum. But this time it was one against three.
“With his strong physique he managed to win in the scrum and that is when he was shot three times in the abdomen, arm and just above the rib,” said Cameron.
The family ran to the security gate in the passageway and pressed the panic button, and the attackers fled.
But their woes did not end there. As Du Randt took his injured and bleeding former teammate to hospital, the car they were travelling in veered off the road and two tyres burst.
A passing car stopped and gave them a lift to the hospital.
According to reports, Drotske had lost about a third of his blood.
Police spokesperson Kay Makhubela said a case of attempted murder and attempted house robbery had been opened, but by late yesterday police had not made any arrests.
However, two men had been taken in for questioning.
Yesterday, a forensics team and police were scouring the house and blood spatters could be seen on the porch.
Drotske retired from playing competitive rugby in 2005.
He coached the Free State Cheetahs for a number of years until 2015.