Manenberg residents were in shock on Monday after a beloved oupa was found dead in his workshop with an electrical cord around his neck.
While a police investigation into the death of William Lambert, 83, is underway, his family believes he was murdered and robbed.
His hartseer relatives say they could not believe their eyes when they found the cord of a fan tied around
William’s neck, with blood coming from his nose.
SHOCK: Nieces Ruina, 16, and Elene Lino, 18, discovered body
Adopted daughter Candice Baartman, 25, says the friendly old man became withdrawn after wife Maria, 84, passed away two months ago due to illness.
“We live in the front and he lived alone in the main house,” she explains.
“After Ouma’s death, he just kept to himself and didn’t worry much with people.
“He stayed in the house and fixed washing machines in his hokkie at the back and sold detergents.
“He became grumpy and we respected that he just wanted his space so we left him.”
VICTIM: Oupa William Lambert, 83
Candice says on Monday morning, she woke up after hearing a woman knock at the oupa’s door.
“She wanted him to fix a TV and he said he can’t, but she was keeping dik and said maybe he must try,” she says.
“I heard him tell her that she must tell her boyfriend that he [ Oupa] is looking for him because he stole something from them.”
She says she left the house and returned home hours later to find the family trying to bash in the front door.
Niece Ruina Lino, 16, says people came knocking on Monday afternoon looking to buy detergent, but the old man didn’t answer the door.
Her sister Elene, 18, says William did not respond to their calls.
“ Ons het almal begin panic. We tried to break the lock on the gate and one neighbour even broke the window by his bedroom to see if he was sleeping.”
FORCE: Neighbour broke window
The family gained entry to the house and Ruina found her uncle lying on the floor of his workshop with the cord wrapped around his neck and the door wide open.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, says Manenberg police have only opened an inquest docket at this stage, after the oupa was found dead in his home at about 4.30pm.
“According to reports, after family members did not hear from him, his daughter came to his house and found his body in his room.
“There was no forced entry to his home. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.”
But Candice is convinced William was killed: “He was murdered. but we will wait for the doctor’s report.
“We also think the person stole something because his pockets were turned out.”