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Johannesburg - Lion de Necker, 47, who was shot dead during a family altercation on Saturday morning, has been described by those who know him as a proverbial gentle giant.
His son, Jan-Lion, 21, is set to appear in the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Netwerk24 has established.
"Rest in peace, my friend. You were a giant!" Elsabé Malan, who used to work as a caregiver for one of De Necker’s best friends, wrote on Facebook.
She said the family had been going through a difficult time since their eldest son, Pierre (who was 24 at the time), was killed in a vigilante attack in 2016.
"It’s a very tragic story, but there is no avoiding destiny," she said on Sunday.
Willie Britz, another friend, wrote on Facebook: "This is very sad. First his son and now him. Rest in peace, Lion. I don’t know how one is supposed to understand something like this."
Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi confirmed the incident. He said Lion de Necker and his wife Catryn had argued at about 03:00 on Saturday.
"De Necker allegedly had a knife on him and when his son tried to intervene, he attacked him with the knife. The son then fetched a gun and shot his father in the chest."
It is not clear if the firearm was licensed.
De Necker died at the scene.
Police found two knives on him. Jan-Lion had lacerations to his arm.
