A Springbok rugby player and former coach, Naka Drotské, was shot and almost killed by a masked and heavily-armed terrorist gang at his brother’s home on a smallholding just outside Pretoria. With the political climate around land ownership in South Africa on a knife edge, the four masked attackers were evidently intent on massacring Drotské’s entire family and, were it not for his courageous counterattack, they might have succeeded.
At around 21:15 on Thursday night, the Drotské family had just finished a traditional braaivleis, or barbecue, on the deck outside their home when the four armed terrorists struck. Two children, aged 11 and 13 years respectively, belonging to Drotské’s brother Tinus, as well as a smaller girl of seven, were watching TV.
Drotské’s good friend, Os Du Randt and himself a former Springbok rugby player, was sprayed with teargas in the eyes by the attackers. “I think they wanted to eliminate the biggest guy first,” said Tinus Drotské.
It was at this moment that Naka Drotské, who was completely unarmed against the four armed black attackers, decided to protect his family by storming all four of them, behind his naked forearm, rugby-style.
According to his brother, Tinus, three of the attackers shot at Naka Drotské simultaneously.
“I went to stand over Nadia Jooste, my girlfriend. I heard a shot. Others say there were three shots. I think it was because three attackers fired at my brother simultaneously (making the shots indistinguishable),” said Tinus Drotské.
With their bare hands, the two ex-Springboks chased off the four armed terrorists. It was only after closing the security gate that Naka realised that he had been wounded. He took one bullet through his arm, into his chest where it lodged just underneath his heart. The other bullet went into his stomach.
On Thursday night, personnel at Pretoria’s Montana Netcare Hospital feared for Naka Drotské’s life. Just getting to the hospital was in itself a miracle as he and Os Du Randt had had an accident on the way, leaving their vehicle stranded. However, as in a Hollywood movie, Os Du Randt jumped in front of a Toyota Corolla, persuading the driver and his two friends to take Naka to hospital. There was no space for Os himself. He then flagged down another vehicle to drive him to the hospital.
Tinus Drotské believed that his brother had saved not only his life but those of the whole family. “I want to say to Naka: You saved us. I don’t even want to think what would have happened if you hadn’t tackled the assailants. It is only by the grace of God that Naka is still alive. My brother is my hero. I owe him my life.”
The news of Naka Drotské’s narrow escape from death at the hands of farm murderers is making headlines worldwide, especially in rugby-playing countries. Even the BBC, usually loathe to report on antiwhite violence in South Africa, carried an article on its website entitled “Naka Drotske: South Africa World Cup winner shot during robbery in Pretoria”, neglecting to mention that nothing was robbed and the incident was clearly a naked ethnic attack.
The Cheetahs, the provincial side trained by Drotske during his years as rugby coach, said in a statement:
“Naka and Os are two of our legendary players, coaches and friends, and we keep them in our thoughts and prayers. We wish Naka a speedy recovery and wish the families involved all the best in this difficult time.”
According to the latest reports from the Montana Netcare Hospital, Drotské is “doing much better but is still in the Intensive Care Unit”. He is being kept in isolation due to the risk of infection through his stomach wound.
His friend and business partner Os Du Randt, together with his wife Marzanne, issued a joint media release today containing a message to the public: “Please know that we appreciate every call, message and all your prayers – we can’t reply to you all personally but we really do read your posts and messages.”
Drotské played 26 tests for the Springboks and was a member of the team that won the Rugby World Cup in 1995.
