Seven months and no arrests
It has been more than seven months since Ruan Hechter (37) was shot and killed at his home on a farm near Madiba Drive (old Saasveld Road), and police are still to make any arrests.
This tragic event, which sent shock waves through George, has since gained national interest with Action Society SA's Ian Cameron and his team looking into it.
A tweet on Cameron's Twitter feed, accompanied by a photo of Hechter, read as follows: "This is Ruan Hechter (37).
On 2 July 2023 he was shot in front of his family on a farm just outside George in the Western Cape. Ruan died in his wife’s arms after he tried to fight off 2 attackers when they attacked is wife. A total of 3 different detectives have been assigned to the case. Still NOTHING by @ SAPoliceService despite several leads possibly even that it was not a ‘farm attack’ by definition. SAPS, come on?
“7 months and nothing? This family is broken. We will be launching an official follow-up campaign on this matter."
Hechter was shot after two unknown men, armed with a firearm, a knife and a crowbar, entered the house shortly after 22:00 during a period of load shedding that night.
The men allegedly first accosted Hechter's wife, Karen, who was in their bedroom closest to the backdoor from which the suspects forcefully gained entry. They wanted to know where the safe was and allegedly
asked about the other residents in the house.
Both suspects were wearing balaclavas. Hechter rushed to his wife's aid and a fight ensued. A shot was fired and he was hit in the face. He died in his wife's arms.
The suspects fled with only a Lenovo laptop, a maroon handbag and two Samsung phones. In feedback on a media enquiry pertaining to the investigation, arrests, DNA results, ballistics and fingerprints, Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies said that the investigation is ongoing but at a sensitive stage.
"This matter is a subject of an ongoing police investigation. No arrest has been made yet. “Investigation into this matter is at a sensitive stage and no further information pertaining the investigation can be divulged at
A total of 3 different detectives have been assigned to the case. Still NOTHING by @SAPoliceService despite several leads possibly even that it was not a ‘farm attack’ by definition.
this stage," he said.
In the meantime Hechter's family have not been able to mourn his death and still receive regular trauma counselling. They face his tragic death daily and feel that none of their questions are being answered. "We just want an arrest to be made and someone to be charged and prosecuted for his murder. Life has no meaning without him and we need closure.
“How is it possible that no one has been arrested in seven months?" they said.