J&M’s Ockie Brits remembered

MBOMBELA – Hy was ‘n yster is how Ockert “Ockie” Sarel Mathys Brits’ (52) former colleagues in the South African Police Services (SAPS) remember him.

Brits died Sunday morning after his motorcycle was hit by a vehicle making a U-turn on John Ross Road between Empangeni and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal.

He was on his way back from The Chicken Rally in Pinetown with two other riders. He had been riding behind the other two, who managed to swerve out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. Brits was not so lucky, and the vehicle collided head-on with him.

The driver allegedly fled the scene by jumping into his friend’s vehicle, leaving his white Mercedes-Benz behind.
Empangeni police spokesman, Capt Mbongeni Mdlalose said they were using details from the car to find the driver.

“We are investigating a case of culpable homicide, which the driver will be charged with once found,” he said.
At the time of his death, Brits had been working as a guarding and investigations manager at J&M Security in White River.

Brits cut his teeth in the police services on the East Rand in 1985, working in the detective and murder and robbery units.
In 1992 he moved to Mbombela, where he worked in the murder and robbery unit, and the organised crime unit in 1999.

“He was a very dedicated man, who never gave up on all the cases he worked on,” said Piet van Zyl, former lieutenant colonel at Nelspruit Police Station. The two men worked together, though in different branches, until 1996.

He was one of the officers involved in the arrest of known cash-in-transit robber, Collen Chauke. Dries Bezuidenhout, former Nelspruit station commander, also remembers him as an yster. The two worked together until 1996. “We became friends through our work. His children grew up right in front of my eyes.” Bezuidenhout remembers his former colleague as a hard-working man who solved almost any case he worked on.

Brits later moved to serious and violent crimes unit until his retirement from the police in 2008. He then worked for Hi-Tech Guards before joining J&M Security. “He was very professional and loved everyone, including his family,” said Johnnie Terblanche, owner of J&M Security.

“He was a very loyal person,” said Sean Harford, treasurer of Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club where Brits was a member.
“He was very open to living and his well-being and that of others was very important to him,” he added.
Harford went on to say that the club will attend the funeral en masse.

At the time of going to print, his wife, Nicolette, was on her way to Richards Bay to identify his body.
Brits is survived by his wife and two children, Tharina and Ettiene. Funeral and memorial arrangements will be made upon Nicolette’s return.