ROBERTSON – On Thursday morning (20 August) the police forensic team was still busy collecting evidence from the crime scene on the farm Top View in De Hoop, Robertson, where Cornelius van Dalen’s (40) alleged nine-month-long reign of terror came to an end when he was shot and killed during a police shootout on Monday (17 August).
A police sergeant, who is a member of the police’s special task team, was wounded by Van Dalen during the shootout.
NovaNews has learned that the Hawks will visit the crime scene on Saturday (22 August).
By the time of publication NovaNews was still waiting on confirmation from the Hawks.
Phaladi Shuping, a spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), says the investigations are still ongoing. “We cannot comment on the merits of the investigation.”
Van Dalen’s death stemmed from an incident on Sunday (16 August) when he fired shots at a neighbour’s car, damaging the vehicle. Van Dalen also fired several shots at the local police and farm owner Karl Smith when they were on their way to attend the scene.
A specialised police task team afterward attended the scene when the local police called for backup. A shootout ensued between Van Dalen and the task team.
On 17 August a second police task team was flown in to assist. Van Dalen was fatally wounded when another shootout ensued between him and the second task team.
Brig. Novela Potelwa, a senior provincial police spokesperson, said earlier that police seized an assault rifle, a shotgun, two pistols, magazines, different types of ammunition, flags and notebooks with inscriptions.
Karl Smith, the farm owner, told NovaNews that until Thursday (20 August) no family members or friends of Van Dalen came to visit the crime scene. “I don’t believe he had any friends.”
According to Smith the shootout between Van Dalen and the police did not interfere with the daily operations on his farm. He says he farms with a few sheep and chickens.
He says a few apartments and houses on the farm situated close to where Van Dalen lived were severely damaged during the shootout.
Smith says after Sunday and Monday’s ordeal it is business as usual on the farm.
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