Ex-Cheetahs and Griquas tighthead prop Piet Bester was murdered in a district outside of Bloemfontein over the weekend.
A retired magistrate, the 63-year-old rose to stardom in the Currie Cup in the 1990s and played for the Junior Springboks against the All Blacks in 1992.
Bester was renowned for his incredibly strong scrummaging despite weighing under 80 kilograms at the start of his career before bulking out to 95kgs.
Piet Bester murdered
Police spokesperson, captain Loraine Earle, confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder.
It is believed that Bester was hit with a sharp object on his head on his smallholding in the Glen district outside Bloemfontein.
“The arrests were made possible through the close cooperation and swift action of the local farming community and police,” a police statement read.
“On Sunday, 12 January 2025, the body of Mr Bester was discovered by a worker at his residence in the Glen district at approximately 09:00. He was lying in a pool of blood, having sustained multiple wounds.
“Thanks to the invaluable support of the farming community resulting in the apprehension of two suspects. This breakthrough demonstrates the strength of community-police collaboration in addressing crime.
“Police investigations are ongoing, and the suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
“The investigation officer remains available for further information and appeals to the public for any additional details that may assist in this case.”
Bester’s reputation
Bester’s brother André also played provincial rugby for the Cheetahs packing down as a hooker.
While Bester never went on to play for the Springboks, he did turn out for a Junior Springboks team against the All Blacks that featured many feature many of the stars of the Green and Gold jersey.
The likes of Kobus Wiese, Ruben Kruger, Tiaan Strauss, Joost van der Westhuizen and Jannie de Beer all featured in the match.
Bester’s reputation as a mighty scrummager is well-documented in the Free State with ex-Springboks prop Ollie Le Roux warned of the tighthead when he took his first steps into provincial rugby.
“The old club rugby system was indeed a tough baptism,” he told Supersport in 2020.
“You had older guys in the system like the tough Bester brothers, Andre and Piet. Then you had a masterful scrummager like Dougie Heymans who dished out many a scrumming lesson to a precocious youngster.
“At the time there were a few stories doing the rounds about my work as a bouncer. I was actually a very genial bouncer, I preferred to settle things by suggesting they have a drink, but before my first game against Old Grey, and the feared Bester brothers, Charl Marais told me the Bester brothers were coming for me and that Piet was going to welcome me by saying ‘Welcome to hell’.
“My response to Charl was to say ‘Piet Bester? Meet the devil buddy’. That story has been embellished a bit as if it happened in the game. It didn’t.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/two-arrests-made-after-ex-junior-springboks-prop-is-murdered-in-bloemfontein
