UPDATE: Fiancé talks about hammer ordeal
Lourens de Lange’s dad says his son was someone who was always willing to help others.
SECUNDA – Ms Karin Louw, pregnant fiancé of Mr Lourens de Lange, said the hammer attack on Friday, 17 April came as a total surprise.
“We were walking with our tw0-year-old child in a pram, when the man approached us.
“He walked normal and we did not suspect anything.
“He suddenly swore at Lourens and hit him with a hammer over the head.
“Lourens fell to the ground after the third blow and the man hit him twice more.
“I ran to help Lourens and pushed the man away, but he then hit me over the head as well.
“He stood still and looked at me until the blood began streaming down my face, then he walked away.”
Ms Louw fell on her knees next to Lourens who was coughing up blood, and cried for help.
They were both taken to the Evander Hospital by Langamed South Ambulance Services and Ms Louw got stitches in the head.
Mr De Lange sustained serious head injuries and had bleeding on the brain.
He was later transferred to the Witbank Hospital where he died.
“I will remember him as a friendly person who was always ready to make a joke,” said Ms Louw.
Mr De Lange worked as a machine operator for a mine in Witbank.
Mr De Lange’s father, Mr Anton de Lange said his son was someone who was always willing to help others where he could and he was a “soft” person.
Mr Garth Calitz, member of the sector policing and member of a rehabilitation programme, said: “I put the blame of this senseless attack on innocent people squarely on the shoulders of the drug dealers.
“I have been fortunate to have walked the quarter mile with many families in Secunda that have and are affected by substance abuse.
“I have seen how these drug dealers have their claws in these poor souls. This is unfortunately now our concern.
“Do not be ignorant and so self-centred that you think this does not concern you.
“There are a few good people and churches that launched support groups or rehabs or clinics to help the community of Secunda to deal with the negative effects on the person and the whole family where drugs and substance abuse are involved.
“Educate and warn the youth against the evil and conniving drug suppliers who are only out there for the money.
“These are our children and we love them. Now as parents we ask ourselves, what have we done wrong?
“This is not what we have done, this is what the authorities have not done or can not do alone.
“How can these drug dealers even live among us and we don’t even know it?
“How can we know that this is happening and allow it?
“Satan wants to destroy the family unit.
“It is time to get your family back into churches. Take charge of your family. I am talking to the father figure in the house.
“We want these people who are killing our children and our families, out of our town.
“We will have to stand together and this means everybody, or we will stand to lose what God holds so high – the family.
“Demand that something be done and we must see that it is done.
“Get involved in community based groups that are involved in community safety and well being.”
Also read:
Secunda hammer murderer (19) appears in court https://bit.ly/1aN3JKr
Man Goes berserk in Secunda CBD https://bit.ly/1G3Yrs7
