A former policeman was the victim of a fatal stabbing in Somerset West on Saturday 3 October.

According to provincial police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala, the Somerset West police are investigating a case of murder in an incident that occurred in Church Street around 02:00.

“According to reports, the 41-year-old male victim had an argument with a man outside a club and was stabbed by the suspect several times. He was rushed to a medical facility but succumbed to his injuries on the way. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.”

Somerset West police spokesperson Warrant Officer Suzan Jantjies confirmed a 20-year-old man from Macassar has been arrested and appeared in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on a charge of murder on Monday 5 October.
The case was postponed to Tuesday 27 September for formal bail application. The suspect remains in custody.

The victim was identified as Tesvile Ryon Isaacs from Croydon, a former sergeant at Macassar Police Station from 2013 to 2020. Before that he has been stationed at the Claremont Police Station for several years.

A balanced life

Detective Warrant Officer Norman Ngonelo of Macassar police knew Isaacs long before he became a policeman. “When he was transferred to Macassar Police Station he was a passionate officer who loved tracing and catching criminals. He led a balanced life and was a people’s person, always laughing and sharing a joke, but didn’t tolerate nonsense. He was always there for others in times of need, someone you could always count on, and he carried out his duties with dedication.”

The two stayed in touch after Isaacs left the police, regularly seeing each other in passing. The police service had never left him and he later applied to re-enlist. “He was a good person and we were friends for many years,” said Ngonelo.

Isaacs’ sister, Cecile Cox (42), related how a friend from Macassar knocked on her parents’ door around 03:15 with news of their son having been wounded in a stabbing and had been taken to hospital. Ngonelo had been notified of the incident shortly before.

“My parents were on their way to the hospital when they received a call from a relative, who told them he had reportedly died on his way there,” Cox said.

The family had last seen her brother alive when he left the house on Friday evening. Cox said they don’t know the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident. She added her brother had regularly spent time with friends and enjoyed socialising, especially the occasional karaoke evening.

Much-loved family member

Cox described her brother as a warm-hearted people’s person who loved everyone and brought people together – family and friends alike – and he always had a smile. “Nobody ever thought something like this would ever happen to him.”

She cherishes memories of good times shared and their close bond, as they were able to bicker but reconcile within minutes.

The loss is felt most keenly when her twins, who recently celebrated their first birthday and adored their uncle, asked for him and looked for him. The family finds comfort in the messages of condolence streaming in, servinh as a reminder of the impact Isaacs made on others’ lives.

He is survived by his five children, aged 19, 17, 8, 6 and 2 months, his parents, sister and two brothers.