Family, colleagues of slain Pretoria doctor still in shock
Dr Erna Britz-Van Zyl who was known for her commitment to public health care in the metro, was killed during a robbery at her Erasmasrand home over the weekend.
Colleagues and family members of a slain Pretoria doctor are still in shock following her tragic death over the weekend.
Dr Erna Britz-Van Zyl (75) and her husband, Dries, were found tied up in their Erasmusrand home on Saturday afternoon where it is believed robbers entered and attacked them.
The couple’s son who made the gruesome discovery found his mother deceased with pieces of cloth stuffed in her mouth, while his father who had been injured was waiting in anguish to be helped.
“What physical strength does a fragile woman have against three criminals?” said her younger sister Marie Coetzee.
“To think that she was suffocated. It’s really horrendous.”
Coetzee said it was a very sad time for the family as they were trying to come to terms with the loss.
She said her sister’s contribution to public health care in Pretoria was remarkable and that the community had lost a hero.
“She always did more than what was required. She always went out of her way to do a little more,” she said.
“Many people would call her for help and she would assist them, for free.”
“I remember when our gardener who lives with diabetes was in dire need of medication and had been sent back from a public hospital. My sister got the medication because she understood the need.”
Former colleague and friend Dinah Potgieter described Britz-Van Zyl as a soft-spoken person whose commitment to helping others would be missed
The two worked together for 18 years at was previously known as the H. F Verwoerd hospital in the Pretoria CBD, where Britz-Van Zyl made a name for herself among the elderly people she cared for.
“She was never impatient with the patients she treated. She had so much empathy,” she said.
“She would sometimes cry with patients and then do her best to get them the help they needed.
“I will miss her so much.”
Britz-Van Zyl, who was a mother of four and grandmother of four, studied medicine with the University of Pretoria in her earlier years.
She worked for various hospitals in the metro including facilities in Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Saulsville.
After retiring Britz-Van Zyl still contributed to public health centres – even playing a role in the fight against Covid-19 as a frontline worker at the Steve Biko Academic hospital.
While at the hospital she contracted the virus, but was up and running within two weeks and headed back to the hospital to continue the fight.
“A part of me died with her on that day. I have lost a best friend,” said Coetzee.
“My life will never be the same again.”
Britz-Van Zyl’s husband of more than 50 years, Dries, who survived the ordeal sustained injuries when the robbers allegedly beat him.
He has since been discharged from hospital and was recovering in the care of family members.
The couple’s Toyota Corolla sedan, cellphones, licensed firearm and television sets were taken from the house.
“Police have opened a case of murder and house robbery for investigation,” said police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo.
Despite reports of a second break-in at the family’s home, police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubela told Rekord police had not received any reports of this.
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