OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 6.15pm
SPORT and Recreation Minister Ngconde Balfaur and the National Sports Council on Friday voiced shock and sadness after the murder on Thursday of Netball officials Irma du Preez and Lea Liebenberg.
Balfaur said he would do everything to ensure “the perpetrators of such barbaric acts are brought to book”.
“The minister is angry at the manner in which these sport-loving officials were killed. The arrangements with the Safety and Security Ministry to ensure that security is tightened at the venue of the tournament will be made,” a ministry statement said.
University of Port Elizabeth netball coach Du Preez, (27) and Liebenberg, (30) from Kempton Park, were both shot in the head at 7.45pm on Thursday in the parking lot of the Avion Park stadium. Their bodies were found next to their car.
One of the victims was found with the upper part of her body hanging over the boot of the car.
Du Preez was the vice-president of the Eastern Province Netball Association and Liebenberg was the chief organiser of the Senior Netball Team and the SA Open Championships tournament. The motive for the killing is thought to be robbery.
National Sports Council president Mluleki George reacted by saying something needed to be done about crime in the country. “These incidents are not good for the image of the country or for the 2006 World Cup Bid.”
UPE also expressed shock at the murder of the university’s netball coach.