Gert Hills found dead, family left with questions

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Knysna resident Gert Hills' family is still grappling with unanswered questions following the discovery of his body in his silver-grey Nissan Juke in some dense bushes down an embankment near the Far Hills Hotel in Kaaimans Pass last week.

While the find brought a nearly three-week search to an end, the circumstances remain puzzling.

The family wants to know how the vehicle had gone unnoticed for so long, especially with licence plate recognition (LPR) cameras along the N2, roadworkers stationed along the Kaaimans Pass every day, and no eyewitness accounts of the incident. They find it strange that the wreck was only spotted late on Wednesday night, 6 August.

A source with knowledge of the situation suggested the LPR camera at Kaaimans had been temporarily removed due to the ongoing roadworks. The camera is expected to be replaced soon, if it hasn't already. Details of other LPR cameras along the N2 cannot be disclosed.

According to the Southern Cape Police's spokesperson, Sergeant Chris Spies, a culpable homicide docket has been opened and an autopsy was conducted to determine the exact cause of death. The results were not available at the time of going to press.

Weeks-long search effort

Hills, a well-known pigeon fancier, had been missing for nearly three weeks after leaving his home in Kamdebo Avenue, Old Place, on Friday 18 July to buy pigeon food in town.

Surveillance footage later tracked his vehicle from George to Mossel Bay and ultimately to the Little Brak River off-ramp on the N2 at about 19:00 that evening - his last confirmed sighting. He was believed to be on his way back towards George.

Gert Hills’ Juke as it is hauled out by a local towing service.

Taxi driver's claim

In the meantime, a Wilderness resident, who spoke to George Herald on condition of anonymity, said a local taxi driver had told him he had called the George Police a full week before the discovery to alert them about "the Juke car" at the bottom of the embankment, but he claimed they merely brushed his call off.

The resident said the driver told him he had phoned the station on Thursday 31 July, after hearing from two people at a petrol station in Wilderness that they had spotted the car. "He said he had not seen the vehicle himself, but, armed with potentially important information, he went home and called the police. He claims the officer who answered the call showed little interest, and that nothing came of it," said the resident.

George Herald tried to contact this taxi driver, but was unsuccessful.

In response to a media enquiry about whether the police had received such a call, Spies said: "Information received from the public is dealt with care and confidentiality. The person referred to in your media enquiry may address his or her concerns with the station management."

Condolences from the CPF

In a press release, the George CPF paid its respect to Hills and extended a heartfelt thanks to the many people and organisations who joined the search, including the George, Knysna and Mossel Bay Police, CPFs and Community in Blue teams across the Garden Route, the Provincial Traffic Department, security companies, neighbourhood watches, AfriForum Farm Watch, drone operators and countless community members.

The vehicle was found in some dense bushes down the bottom of an embankment near the Far Hills Hotel.