Hawks officer Gerrie Le Grange is laid to rest

The Mbombela Stadium’s auditorium was filled with family, friends and colleagues all coming to bid farewell to beloved Hawks officer Gerrie le Grange this morning, September 30.

Sharing memories and stories of him, Le Grange’s best friends and a few colleagues spoke about the brave Hawks member, bringing tears to those who loved him most.

Friends and colleagues sang his praises and spoke of all the hard yet excellent work he had done as a police officer.

Colleagues said although Le Grange had been a “gentle giant who was always smiling,” he was like “a pit bull” when it came to criminals.

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With his vehicle’s blue lights flashing, ready to drive off to a crime scene, Jackie le Grange, the wife of WO Gerrie le Grange, shouted out, “Come home safe!” to which he replied, “You know mos.”

Ten minutes after he exited their driveway Jackie received news that would shock her to the core – Gerrie had been in a serious accident and was in a critical condition.

At 05:30 on Friday, just over 12 hours after the accident, he was pronounced dead at Mediclinic Nelspruit, due to complications following the collision with a Ford Ranger.

Gerrie had been on his way to a CIT heist scene near KMI Airport when the front of his Golf GTI hit the side of the bakkie at around 17:00 last Thursday.

Deemed “the gentle giant” by everyone who knew him, tributes have poured in for the beloved warrant officer.
A police officer for 30 years, Gerrie (47) had recently joined the Mpumalanga Hawks – his dream job.

“As soon as I received news of the accident, I rushed to the scene. I was with him the whole time, until 02:45 when I was told to go home and rest,” said a devastated Jackie.

“Just before 05:30 the hospital called and told me to come immediately. They didn’t say anything else, but as I was walking toward the ICU, I just knew he was gone and right there, my whole world broke into a million little pieces.

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“He was my whole life, my best friend, my soulmate, my gentle giant. I will never forget his smile. No matter how difficult his day was, he was always smiling.”

She added that Gerrie had died just two weeks before his 48th birthday.

“He had received many threats to his life throughout the years due to his work and we always thought that that was the way he would go, but never in a car accident.”

Jackie said she and her family and friends had so many great memories together and that everywhere they went, whether it be out to dinner or just the SPAR to get groceries, someone would always stop Gerrie to say hi.

“He had such an impact on so many people’s lives. His death is such a big loss. No one will ever be able to fill those size 11 boots of his,” said Jackie.

“He was an excellent police officer. He had only been with the Hawks for 18 months, following the death of Lt Col Leroy Bruwer last year, but he was so happy to join the team.

“There were many evenings Gerrie would come home with a huge stack of dockets and he would sit at the table until late at night making sure the cases going to court were watertight.

He ensured through his detailed police work that the accused were accordingly sentenced and did not receive bail if they applied.

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“He was truly my hero. He said he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and that is exactly what he did. He wasn’t just a friend to people, he was a brother to them.”

Jackie said Gerrie had always told her, “I love you forever plus two days”.

“Gerrie, now it is my turn to say I love you forever plus two days. I know God had a reason for taking the most precious person on earth, but I know this is not goodbye and we will be together soon, having fun and as happy as we were in this life,” she said.