HECTORSPRUIT – Mr Leon Clur was brutally shot in front of his wife, Ms Marli Clur and their seven-year-old son during a braai at their home this past Sunday. Their daughter was in her room at the time of the shooting.
According to Marli, her neighbour saw how the two assailants took her and her son into the house after the ordeal, and immediately phoned others who formed part of the Malalane Against Crime (MAC) initiative. The police were then called, and local farmers and security services arrived on the scene within minutes.
“I can’t even remember everyone who was here, but I am so grateful to each and every one of them,” Marli said. According to MAC statements, this event was tragic, and played off quite dramatically as the suspects were now armed with a hunting rifle, shotgun and ammunition and were not afraid to use it.
The search lasted six hours, every effort was made to contain the attackers between the N4 and the railway line. It paid off. MAC stated, “Dogged determination and effort on the part of these men and those manning the N4 and railway finally resulted in success.
“The two criminals were cornered. Although they were still armed with the stolen weapons and the handgun used during the attack, they did not survive the ensuing encounter. They were shot down when they attempted to take aim at those confronting them.” According to SAPS spokesman
Const Bheki Nkosi, upon investigation, one of men was found to be Mr Ernesto Silawule, who was a most-wanted criminal.
“He had been terrorising communities in three countries over the past year,” said Nkosi.
“Silawule was jailed a number of years ago on charges of robbery, rape and other crimes. After being released on parole early last year, he wasted no time in resuming his chosen ‘occupation’. He raped, robbed, shot and murdered his way through the region for months on end, and was seen in Malalane during November. He was in the custody of the Mozambican police at one point, but bribed his way loose before senior officials could get to him. Silawule’s excesses finally culminated in his last murder on Sunday evening,” explained community police forum member, Ms Mel Preddy.
Leon was rushed to Mediclinic Nelspruit after the attack, but died on Monday.
Marli said, “I feel I can cope and make all the arrangements needed, but sometimes it all changes into deep sadness. It is not going to change anything but there is some comfort in knowing that these people are no longer among us.”
Leon’s memorial service will be held at the Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) in Malalane on Friday at 11:00.
