There have been only a few leads, say the police.Jan Hettema. The hunt for the killers of former rally champion and Springbok cyclist Jan Hettema is to be stepped up.
“There have been only few leads, but we will place more emphasis on the case to catch those responsible,” police spokesperson Captain Marissa Van der Merwe said on Wednesday.
She said police would not rest until those responsible had been brought to justice.
The 83-year-old Hettema was gunned down at his smallholding in Boschkop east of Pretoria on 29 June last year.
Two armed robbers overpowered Hettema, his wife, and the domestic worker before they ransacked the house.
They fled with jewellery, cellphones and a laptop.
Hettema was declared dead on the scene and was reported to have been shot once in the face.
Hettema is survived by his wife Elsa, son Sean and daughter Helena.
Helena said she missed her father dearly.
She described him as an embodiment of a winning spirit.
“He’s what I call a hundred percenter. He set high standards for himself and pushed himself very hard to live up to them,” she said.
“I carry him wherever I go and will always sing for him.”
According to Helena a highlight of her father’s life was meeting princess Grace Kelly.
The late champion obtained Springbok cycling colours in 1955, representing South Africa at the World Cycling Championships in Rome.
Hettema also took part in the Olympic Games in Australia in 1956.
Hettema had more than 100 road rallies under the belt and won the South African rally Championship five times.
He earned a lifetime achievement award from Motorsport SA in 2003.
Helena said a museum in Benoni had been named after him to commemorate the death of the legend.
Source: Pretoria East Record