Patrick Craig Pedlar

Patrick 'Pat' Craig Pedlar (? - 2020)

Brief overview:

Patrick, a lodge owner from Kosy Bay, was shot when he was pulled out of his pick-up truck on the afternoon of 11th November 2020. He had gone out to collect wood. Patrick managed to shoot and kill one of the three attackers, after which one of the perpetrators shot him three times in the head.

Doctor’s at the Munguzi hospital worked throughout the night trying to save his life. He succumbed to his injuries and passed away the following morning.

Written by Brad Nathan (Brad Nathan Investigations)

RIP PATRICK CRAIG PEDLAR - YOU DIED A HERO!

"Patrick and his wife Cathy own a Lodge in Kosy Bay. I met Patrick in 2017 when I arrived in Kosy Bay to facilitate the arrest of the men who murdered Marius Deysel (Umhlali). One week before my arrival, Patrick, his wife Cathy and friends were victims of a home invasion that took place at the Lodge. It was a Sunday evening. Guests had left and guards were down. The robbers took all of Patrick’s weapons after discovering his rifle safe. These were the same men who murdered Marius Deysel.

I meet a lot of people in my job but Patrick was a guy I liked from the get-go. He called a spade a spade and like me, spent most of his life in the protection of others having joined the SAP two years after me. Patrick lost his first wife during a bank robbery and whilst both Patrick and his wife were serving members of the SAP. Patrick also worked in Quatar taking care of one of the princes there.

We managed to recover all of Patrick’s weapons during the arrest of Marius Deysel’s killers. Patrick and I became close friends after this. We visited each other with our respective wives as often as we could, mostly at the Lodge in Kosy Bay.

On Tuesday 10 November Patrick went off in the direction of the Tembe Elephant Park to buy iron-wood for the lodge. When he did not take Cathy’s call and when Cathy realized that Patrick was taking longer than usual to return with wood, Cathy just knew that something was wrong.

According to witnesses Patrick loaded up wood from the “wood-sellers” at the side of the road and was getting into his Toyota 2.8D when he was dragged from his car by a man who had managed to sneak up on him before he could close his drivers door. As the second man ran toward Patrick, Patrick managed to clear his weapon from where it was concealed on his right side and Patrick shot the man twice before Patrick himself was shot in the back of his head by the man who had him in a choke hold. When Patrick went to ground the shooter shot Patrick twice more in the head before loading his wounded mate into Patrick’s car and speeding off.

The shooter was unable to drive so he crashed Patrick’s bakkie 30m from where the shooting took place. The shooter tried to carry his wounded partner but his partner died and was left lying next to the bakkie after the shooter ran off.

Patrick survived through the night and fought the fight of his life to stay alive but surrendered to his injuries at 06h00 on 11 November at Manguzi hospital.

A local FB page, followed mostly by black people from the area, hailed Patrick a “hero” as the deceased suspect and his accomplice are apparently notorious criminals from the area. Those selling wood at the side of the road are in fear that this incident will affect their business whilst many recognized the fact that through the Lodge, Patrick was providing employment.

Another two lives lost as a result of the crime pandemic in this country. What are our chances of growing old here? We know the identity of the “shooter”. He WILL be found and justice WILL be served but neither Patrick nor his attacker will be coming back.

Our sincere condolences to Cathy, Patrick’s Brother Gary, his sister Barbara, his Son Craig, his daughter Bianca, and all of those who knew and loved Patrick, including his staff from the Lodge. Another good man gone too soon.
To Patrick. I will miss you mate. Sitting here at the Lodge without being able to look up and see your face is surreal. You made your mark my friend. You will not be forgotten.

In God’s Hands."

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Street/Suburb
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://www.facebook.com/BradNathansonPI/posts/10159188988587848
• https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3635325766560959&...
• https://archive.is/abidS