Moving tribute to top cop Byleveld
PIET Byleveld’s widow‚ Elize‚ could not hold back her tears as the top cop’s casket was ushered into the Rosebank Union Church‚ where Byleveld’s memorial service was held yesterday.
Family and friends comforted each other as heartwarming letters from his loved ones were read out.
He was remembered as more than just a revered police officer, but a man who was a father‚ grandfather‚ husband‚ brother and friend.
In her hand-written note‚ Elize recalled his last words to her: “My angel‚ you can cry but don’t keep your emotions in‚ otherwise you will bottle up.”
Flowers filled the stage and his casket‚ also adorned with flowers‚ sat centre-stage with pictures of him on either side.
“The funeral bed is actually such a beautiful thing. It is a place where you surrender everything to God‚” memorial programme director Natalia Strydom said.
Byleveld died of cancer in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, on Wednesday last week.
Byleveld was known as the “man hunter” and regarded as one of the country’s top detectives.
His wife remembered how she had woken him up with a cup of coffee every morning and how he had spoken of things that made him happy and made him sad.
Byleveld’s colleague, Walter Hirzebruch, described him as a compassionate man who had always been kind to people‚ including suspects.
“His humanity never failed‚ not even in the face of evil‚” prosecutor Herman Broodryk said.
The sleuth was remembered for his dark suits and survival on cigarettes‚ Coke and Grandpa headache powders.
“He never slept but was always alert and he had the worst handwriting and it was never legible‚” Broodryk said.
The top cop was always prepared to take on the most difficult cases and expected the state advocates to deliver.
“State advocates lined up to do his cases,” Broodryk said.
“In later years he became fussy about who his state prosecutor would be.”
Byleveld had so many murder cases‚ he was allocated an office in the high court.
“He always remained calm in the witness box and never lost his temper,” Broodryk said.
“He also charmed the female prosecutors with his smile.”