Pretoria police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of Jacques Freitag’s body near the Zandfontein cemetery in Pretoria West.
Pretoria police probe murder after Jacques Freitag body found with bullet wounds
The former high jump world champion, reported missing two weeks ago, was found with gunshot wounds by the SAPS Search and Rescue Team.
The team, which included members from Air Wing, Water Wing, and local police, had been conducting a thorough search for Freitag.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the investigation and stated that no arrests had been made yet.
Freitag was last seen on 17 June 2024, when he left his mother’s house at around 01:00 with an unknown man, reportedly heading to a guesthouse in Pretoria West.
The family has not yet officially identified the body, although the circumstances and the location strongly suggest it is Freitag.
Masondo urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist in the investigation.
Here’s what we know about Jacques Freitag
Jacques Freitag was born on 11 June 1982 and grew up in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, approximately 50 kilometres east of Pretoria.
He was a celebrated high jumper, one of only ten athletes to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior levels in his event. Freitag’s athletic prowess made him a prominent figure in South African sports.
Freitag’s mother, Hendrina Pieters, was also a high jump champion in South Africa, with a personal best of 1.74 metres in 1973.
This athletic legacy undoubtedly influenced Freitag’s career and achievements.
Freitag attended Hoërskool Erasmus in Bronkhorstspruit and later Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria, South Africa’s only Afrikaans medium boys’ high school.
In 2003, Freitag was named the University of Pretoria Sportsman of the Year, a testament to his skill and dedication to athletics.
Throughout his career, Freitag’s high jump performances earned him international acclaim and respect within the sports community.
The circumstances behind Freitag’s tragic death remain the subject of an ongoing police investigation.