Lieutenant Colonel Pieter Pretorius, born 24 July 1965, age 59 at death. Devoted father to two adult children. Served SAPS nearly four decades from appointment 19 December 1983. Stationed at SAPS Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU), Mpumalanga; seasoned investigator of complex and high-risk cases. On 16 January 2025, while returning from lunch, ambushed and fatally shot in a targeted attack in his private vehicle; rushed to Ermelo Medical Clinic; succumbed to injuries. Working on a sensitive case involving a former police officer believed connected to his murder; ten suspects arrested. Named at Annual Police Commemoration Day 2025 as the eldest of 27 officers for FY 2024/2025. Name on 2024/2025 SAPS Roll of Honour (SAPS Commemoration magazine; Annual Report PERSAL 0077168-6).
South African Police Memorial, Union Buildings, Pretoria (1984). https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes_mob.php?bldgid=14414
SAPS Annual Report 2024/2025, Roll of Honour (1 Apr 2024 - 31 Mar 2025; 27 members). https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202511/south-african-police-service-annual-report-2024-2025.pdf
SAPS Commemoration magazine / Wall of Remembrance 2024/2025. https://www.saps.gov.za/resource_centre/publications/police_mag/documents/20255/commemoration%20magazine%20(2).pdf
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Annual Police Commemoration Day, 7 September 2025. https://www.gov.za/news/speeches/deputy-president-paul-mashatile-annual-police-commemoration-day-07-sep-2025 (Israeli Fallen Soldiers & Victims of Terrorism database — search by name)