Cullinan stalwart Dave Roberts died in hospital on September 8, two months after he was shot in a house robbery. He had been in the the high-care trauma ICU at Alberton Netcare Hospital since the attack.

According to his brother in Canada, Gordon, Dave was attacked mere hours after he dropped Gordon and his wife, Sandy, at the airport.

“We visited South Africa to provide moral support and help around the house. Both my brother, Dave, and his wife, Magda, had been diagnosed with cancer within weeks of each other in late 2024.

“By the end of June 2025, Dave went into remission, but Magda’s condition worsened, leaving her bedridden in Life Groenkloof Hospital in Pretoria,” Gordon wrote on a GoFundMe page online. This page was created to cover Dave’s medical expenses.

“On the night of July 7, after we visited Magda to say goodbye, my wife and I left for the airport to return to Canada. Dave dropped us off, went home, made dinner, and went to bed.

“Around 03:00, intruders broke into his home, entered his bedroom, and shot him twice – once in the chest and once in the hand – before fleeing with stolen items, including his firearm.

“Alone and gravely injured, Dave somehow crawled outside, calling for help. A tenant heard his cries and alerted a local security unit.”

Gordon said Dave was airlifted to hospital, where doctors saved his lung and hand, but he endured multiple surgeries, medically induced comas, and an exhausting fight for survival.

“While Dave lay recovering, his wife Magda passed away on July 28, after a 10-month battle with cancer. We waited to tell him until he was lucid enough to understand,” explained Gordon.

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Dave was known for his work at Green Rhino African Travel, his dedication to the Cullinan community, and his involvement with the Cullinan Community Policing Forum (CPF).

The CPF management issued a statement on WhatsApp on Monday. “We are sad that criminals took Dave’s life violently while he was sleeping.

“This is a senseless act by cowards, but it makes us more determined in our fight against crime.

“He was larger than life, and his presence will truly be missed. He was always willing to assist when needed, regardless of his circumstances. He overcame lung cancer recently and won that battle.

“Thank you, Dave, for your dedication and enthusiasm in making Cullinan a better and safer place for everyone. You fought a brave fight every day.”