No arrests yet after brutal attack on Moot family

A Riviera family in the Moot has to cope with the memories of a recent brutal attack on Valentine’s Day.

The attack was so vicious that Gustav Dreyer (52) now makes sure there is always an escape route out of his home.

“We have now installed security beams around our house and we also keep all our doors and windows locked at all times. Life goes on, and we just feel exceptionally lucky to be alive.

“If I can give anyone some advice, always make sure you have an escape route in your house and yard to get out when attackers come inside.”

Dreyer, his wife Elmarie (51), and their 18-year-old daughter Melissa were at home when the attackers quietly gained entry around 20:30 on the night.

He was sitting on the lower floor in the living room watching television when Koos, their five-year-old Maltese dog lying next to him, suddenly started barking.

“I looked up and saw two men, one with a firearm and the other with a pipe with a hook at the tip,” Dreyer told Rekord.

Without knowing it, a third attacker was already on his way upstairs towards where Elmarie and Melissa were.

“One of the men ordered me to lie flat on the ground, but I started shouting for my wife instead.”

Elmarie and Melissa heard his shouting and tried to shut their security gate at the top of the stairs. Elmarie was hit in the face with a pitchfork while she and her daughter tried to run away.

The mother and daughter fought fiercely against the attacker as he tried to stop them from shutting the gate.

“To her, it almost felt like a movie. I think he must have tripped because they pushed him outside the gate and slammed the gate shut.”

The attacker then returned downstairs where Gustav and the two other men were.

“Elmarie and Melissa took the chance to run to one of the windows and immediately started shouting for help. I was still lying down when I heard them and decided to take action myself.

“I was worried that if I do, as they say, they might keep us there for five hours,” Gustav said.

Gustav took a chance, jumped up and unexpectedly grabbed the firearm from one of the men.

“A struggle ensued and at one point, all three were hitting and attacking me. Unfortunately, one of them got hold of the gun once again, and I even tried to strangle one of the guys with an axe they brought.”

Two of the suspects started running away and jumped over the wall.

Gustav and the attacker who remained continued to fight when the criminal pointed the gun at Gustav and pulled the trigger.

“The gun didn’t go off but then he tried it again and that is when I turned my head, closed my eyes and turned away.”

He shot me in the back of the head. The bullet entered one part of his head and exited on another side, missing his brain by millimetres.

Gustav and his family survived the ordeal, with minimal injuries.

“All the glory to God who watched over us and protected us. I’m fine and don’t have any permanent injuries. That man shot me in my head with no serious damage. We are exceptionally lucky,” Gustav said.

Meanwhile, police this week confirmed that no arrests had been made in the case.

“We are following up on leads, but a case of attempted murder is being investigated,” said Captain Anton Breedt from Moot police station.

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