Following an altercation at a lodge in Muldersdrift, a father of two, Len Cloete, is currently in a coma battling for his life after he was shot in the head by the police in front of his wife, Chantel, and friends.

“My husband is fighting for his life. My heart is completely broken. Taking day by day. We miss you! Your kids are waiting for you. Please fight my husband. I cannot lose you, not like this. Everyone, please pray for a miracle. He was shot and is currently in a coma. We love you, my angel, my man, my everything. Please come back to us,” Chantel said.

The Cloete couple, along with another couple, arrived at the guesthouse on Friday, November 12. The booked rooms were not ready yet, and the couples went to the restaurant to eat while they waited for their rooms.

It is believed an altercation occurred at around 16:00 when the rooms of the couples were still not ready.

According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Grace Langa, the manager of the lodge requested the Cloete to leave, saying the lodge would refund him, but he allegedly refused.

“The security and manager followed him to his room and requested him to leave. He then became more aggressive.

“Police officers were called to come and assist, further alleged that when the police arrived, the guest started fighting with the police,” Langa said.

She said, according to their information Cloete took a firearm out of the bed drawer and cocked it, and a bullet fell down.

“It is alleged that Cloete disarmed a police officer of his firearm. The guest was in possession of two firearms when another police officer took out his service pistol and shot that man once on the head,” she said.

Langa said the father of two was taken to the hospital under police guard.

Private investigator Mike Bolhuis’ told the media they are also investigating the shooting.

Bolhuis said their main investigation would be to establish if the correct protocols had been followed during the incident.