Man’s death shrouded in guns and drugs
Moela confirmed that an inquest into Kruger’s death was opened and that the investigation is pending. Franke was detained for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition in contravention of the provisions of the Firearm Act 60 of 2000, as well as the possession of drugs.
LYDENBURG – An inquest into an irregular death led to the confiscation of various firearms, ammunition, crystal meth and an unknown substance.
On Sunday Lydenburg SAPS were called out to a crime scene. A man was found dead at Spitskop Farm A11, just outside town.
According to Capt Alfred Moela, spokesman for Lydenburg SAPS, when they arrived at the scene, they found Dave Kruger (35) dead in an Amarok bakkie. His feet were hanging from the vehicle with open wounds and lacerations to his face.
Moela said officers questioned residents of the household living at the farm about what happened. “According to them, Kruger and a friend, Alex Franke (39) were apparently drinking in the garage before the incident occurred.
Franke told officers that Kruger had been apparently drunk and fell on a sharp object, alleging that the fall caused his death.”
Moela said provincial emergency services (EMS) was called to the scene. They certified Kruger dead. “Franke was kept in the police bakkie and we requested the family to remove their dogs so police could search his room. They were reluctantly alleging that there is no place to take them. We could see that their dogs were vicious. They ended up taking us to the wrong room where the only furniture was an old bed with only one blanket.
“The room was untidy, everything was upside down and it was clear that no one slept there. We told them that we know Franke’s bedroom because on a previous occasion he fired shots randomly after taking drugs. Officers were then also called out to that incident.”
Only then were officers led to Franke’s room. Moela said Franke also had a room on a neighbouring farm where he occasionally stayed. Upon searching both rooms officers found a .22 rifle, two .98 whole-point bullets, 10 shotgun rounds, 45 nine-millimetre cartridges, 20 whole-point machinegun rounds, 622 nine-millimetre bullets, 50 rounds of .302 rifle ammunition, 275 nine-millimetre rounds, one reloading press for pistol ammunition, one ninemillimetre magazine and one ninemillimetre toy gun.
Officers also confiscated an unknown chemical which will be taken to a laboratory for testing, crystal meth (weighed unknown) a black pipe, eight shotgun shells, R5 ammunition, .308 ammunition, 382 nine-millimetre bullets, 100 grams of mercury in a bottle and 51 nine-millimetre empty cartridges.
It is suspected that drugs were manufactured at Franke’s place. Moela confirmed that an inquest into Kruger’s death was opened and that the investigation is pending. Franke was detained for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition in contravention of the provisions of the Firearm Act 60 of 2000, as well as the possession of drugs.
He was also charged for the unlawful manufacturing of drugs and the unlawful possession of explosive powder. Section 90 of the Act prohibits any person from possessing ammunition unless he or she holds a licence in respect of a firearm which is capable of firing that ammunition.
He appeared in the Lydenburg’s Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He remains in custody until his next court appearance on November 26. The investigation and arrest were made by White River and Lydenburg’s K9 units, Lydenburg detectives, visible policing members, Moela and the station commander, Col Lota Motsileng.
