Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Investigator believes Gerber case can be solved
IT HAS been 22 years since the family of Eric Gerber saw him after he mysteriously disappeared one Friday after leaving work.
The search for Gerber has now become national after his family created a Facebook page and hired several private investigators.
A new investigator, Leon Nel of Cold Cases South Africa, has been invited to look into Gerber’s case but he is awaiting a formal confirmation of contract.
Gerber, originally from Strand in the Western Cape, had moved to Kamp Street, Pretoria, where he lived with his aunt, Magda Havenga.
Havenga is now on a mission to find her nephew who she raised as her son.
She posts Gerber’s photograph weekly on several pages on Facebook, hoping to find answers.
Nel said they were encouraged to look into Gerber’s case but were now waiting for confirmation from the family.
Havenga confirmed that the family was preparing to hire Nel and his team.
Gerber’s mother, who was Havenga’s sister, has since died.
Havenga said potential sightings of Gerber as far as Strand had proved fruitless. Gerber celebrated his 21st birthday on February 10, 2000, and a day later he mysteriously vanished.
Gerber was due to attend a doctor’s appointment but did not arrive.
“That Friday, he attended work and was staying with me at the time,” said Havenga.
“He didn’t return home from work and he was supposed to attend a doctor’s appointment.
“He worked in Centurion, where he repaired glassware of cars such as windscreens. I called his sister and his mother and wanted to report him missing but we were told we had to wait 48 hours.”
Havenga said none of Gerber’s personal belongings, including his identity document, was missing, which left them baffled.
“He was eventually reported missing on February 14,” she said.
“His father hired various private investigators, but there were no answers, and there was someone in Strand who people said was him, but it wasn’t.
“There have been no leads. He wore a blue overall that day. He had his sports bag and food with him.”
Nel said they had informally begun investigating Gerber’s case which they believed could be solved.
Nel is a former director of forensic audits in the provincial government, a computer forensic examiner and an interviewing expert.
He explained they had potential scenarios which could assist them in that there were allegations against Gerber, that he was involved in a labour dispute and the sale of his motorbike.
“I am in contact with the family,” Nel said.
“They have still to officially appoint me. I have done interviews and (these) suggest that this case can be solved.
“We need to determine whether he left, whether it was due to serious allegations, whether it was due to a labour issue that went sour, a medical condition or foul play with a deal with his motorbike.”
The Track n Trace missing persons team have since been assigned to Gerber’s case as well.
If you have any information about Gerber, please contact the family via the Missing Eric Clody Gerber Facebook page.