Niël Terblanché
A MAN, who acted as a peacemaker maker between his employer and his son, the 54-year-old Gerhardus van Wyk, died on the way to hospital after being shot in the stomach on Farm Kaross near Kamanjab on Saturday.
His employer and owner of the farm, the 51-year-old Eric Harvey, the British national that shot van Wyk was admitted to the hospital In Outjo under police guard after he sustained a gunshot wound to his hand.
The Kunene Regional Police Commander, Commissioner James Nderura confirmed that Harvey managed to shoot himself in the hand with the same shot that killed Van Wyk.
It is alleged that Van Wyk, who was employed as the farm’s manager, was in the process of wrestling the firearm away from Harvey when the shot was fired.
It is alleged that an argument started after the British national insulted the wife of Van Wyk’s son.
The younger Van Wyk told investigating officers that he told Harvey not to insult his wife upon which the older man started threatening him with a pistol while becoming increasingly aggressive.
The older Van Wyk attempted to intervene and a physical altercation ensued.
The deceased person was trying to wrestle the pistol away from his employer. While the two men wrestled a shot went off which mortally wounded Van Wyk in the stomach.
Harvey had his arm around Van Wyk when the shot went off. The bullet travelled through Van Wyk’s body and also struck Harvey in the hand.
After the shot was fired, Van Wyk’s family members rushed him to the hospital in Outjo but he, unfortunately, passed away about 30 kilometres from the town.
The police in Kamanjab were notified of the shooting shortly after it occurred on Saturday and when they got to the farm Harvey was alone in the house. He was arrested and taken to hospital in Outjo where he is currently under police guard.
According to Commissioner Nderura, Harvey is set to make his first appearance in the Outjo Magistrate’s Court as soon as the attending physician gives him a clean bill of health.
