The Chief Albert Luthuli Park resident, who has been a junior pastor for two years at a Daveyton church, was shot dead in his vehicle which was parked in his driveway shortly after 8pm on Wednesday, February 11.
Pule, his partner, Zodwa Mahlangu, and their four-year-old daughter, Ofentse and 12-year-old son, Thando, returned home from attending church in Mayfield, Daveyton.
“They came back from church and stopped at the gate to their house,” said Benoni SAPS cluster spokesperson Lieut Nomsa Sekele.
“The 12-year-old son got out of the car and opened the gate for his father when suddenly a silver VW Polo stopped behind them.”
The three occupants jumped out, with two of them moving to the driver’s side and one on the left-hand side of the family’s white Corsa Lite.
The armed man, standing on the right-hand side of the vehicle, stuck his gun through the half open window and fired his weapon, hitting the father in the upper body.
Sekele said the shooter opened the car door and dragged the victim out of the car.
The hijacker on the passenger side of the car, who was not armed, demanded money and a Blackberry cellphone from the victim’s wife.
The robbers made off with the Neville’s car.
The brother of the deceased, Maripe Pule, told the City Times at the scene of the crime, this afternoon (Thursday February 12), that the family is traumatised by the loss of their loved one.
“We are devastated to say the least,” said the brother.
“We took it very badly.”
Maripe said his brother, who is one of six children, will be remembered as someone who was a fantastic father and passionate about his faith in God.
“He was Christ loving and Christ fearing,” said Maripe.
“He was a very devoted Christian and he would not exchange anything for his God.”
The brother denounced the senseless killing.
“…We hope crime stops,” said Maripe.
“A car is not worth another person’s life.
“We are heartbroken and we hope somebody does something about crime; it’s out of hand.”
A large group of family members were at the house offering each other support.
Thando gave a statement to the SAPS this afternoon; answering questions with a blank expression on his face.
The funeral will be held on Saturday and the family are still finalising the time and venue.
Neville’s two children and fiancé were unharmed.
A case of murder and hijacking has been opened and no one has been arrested.
