While investigations continued, Len Cloete is making good progress in hospital after he awakes from a coma.

Cloete, the owner of a gym in Rietvalleirand, east of Pretoria, was injured during an altercation with police at a Muldersdrift Misty Hills lodge in November last year.

He was shot in the head by a police officer after he disarmed one of the officers during a heated argument.

According to specialised security service investigator Mike Bolhuis, the bullet lodged in Cloete’s head was removed and he had woken up from his coma.

Cloete was moved to a rehabilitation unit at a private hospital in Krugersdorp and was making rapid progress.

“He can move and feel on both sides of his body. He moves his eyes, he recognises his wife and kisses her,” Bolhuis said.

“He uses his eyes to communicate.”

Despite this Bolhuis said Cloete still had a long way to go in his recovery and all authorities would have to wait until he was fully aware before a statement could be taken from him.

He said there was no indication on when Cloete would be fit enough to be interviewed, but at this stage he could not be questioned.

“Unless the doctors at a stage say that he is ready for an interview, he will not be questioned,” Bolhuis said.

“Otherwise the case can be tainted and thrown out of court.”

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He said the investigations by his team was almost complete and was only waiting for Cloete’s side of the story.

The independent police investigative directorate (IPID) said its investigation into whether the police acted lawfully on the day of the incident, was also still ongoing.

Spokesperson Grace Langa said the directorate would take advice from doctors on when they can get a statement from Cloete.

“The process that will follow after Cloete’s recovery will be collecting his statement and taking the matter for national prosecuting authority to decide,” Langa said.

In a video that was doing the rounds on social media, Cloete can be seen drawing a gun and cocking it during an argument with police officers.
A female police officer could be heard saying: “now you are playing dangerous” as she and other officers draw their guns.

Moments later, Cloete grabs the female police officer’s gun, after which another officer shoots him in the head.

It is unclear what the altercation was about, but police have opened a case of robbery, assault and malicious damage to property against Cloete.

His family opened a counter charge of attempted murder against the police who were involved in the shooting.

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