EAST London businessman Anton Coetzee, 38, was found dead on Chintsa East beach soon after sunset on Thursday.The high-achieving estate agent at Pam Golding Properties East London resigned three weeks ago and had left an e-mailed note for his family, said his brother, local attorney Sean Coetzee. Reporters were at the scene on the beach, a few metres from the end of the Crawford Lodge’s wooden staircase, at about 10pm. police were busy with forensic work and the body was driven away along the beach by midnight.
Police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais said the body of a man was found with a gunshot wound to the head. Foul play was not suspected. Sean Coetzee said: “Anton was a wonderful brother, a veryloving and good father. We are devastated.”
Coetzee was born and raised in Zimbabwe and educated at Pretoria Boys’ High where he played first team hockey and cricket. When he was 20 he became one of the youngest hunters ever to obtain a professional licence.
“Anton was raised in the outdoors,” said Sean. His brother moved to East London in 2004 and operated as Pam Golding East London principal Hanlie Bassingthwaighte’s selling partner. In his first two years in the agencybusiness, he was recognised as the best salesman in the entire group.
“He was one of those guys who, once he had put his mind to it, would succeed,” said Sean. Coetzee leaves two teenage daughters aged 14 and 12, his wife and hisparents, all resident in East London.
Staff at Pam Golding East London said of Coetzee: “He was a fantastic person, a great friend and a good man.”
(Taken from The Dispatch newspaper 31/05/2014)