Police have arrested a teen boy following a tragic incident in which he allegedly kicked a 58-year-old man at the Engen petrol station on Voortrekker Road in Malmesbury resulting in the death of the man.
The incident, captured on CCTV, has shocked the local community and sparked outrage on social media.
Gert Coetzee, a well-known ‘street person’ in the area, was involved in an altercation with a 13-year-old boy at the petrol station.
The reason for the argument remains unclear.
The CCTV footage shows Coetzee standing near a stationary SPAR delivery truck when the boy suddenly strikes out with his arm.
The boy then walks off but returns to kick Coetzee, causing him to fall back into the path of the truck’s wheels just as it begins to move.
Capt. Frederick van Wyk, police spokesperson, confirmed the incident: “The man was fatally injured. A thirteen-year-old boy was arrested and later released into the care of his parents.”
The Malmesbury police have opened a case of culpable homicide.
The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, has prompted a strong reaction from the public.
Many have expressed their horror and disbelief at the incident, calling for justice for Coetzee.
The boy is expected to appear in the Malmesbury Magistrate’s Court once charges are formally laid against him.
The video, while distressing, has been shared online and serves as a grim reminder of the tragic event.
As the community grapples with this shocking incident, questions remain about the motive behind the altercation and the circumstances leading up to Coetzee’s untimely death.
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