Jacques Freitag’s death is being investigated as murder

The body of former South African world high jump champion Jacques Freitag was found earlier this week with gunshot wounds after he had gone missing for a fortnight.

He was 42.

His body was found near the Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria West.

Freitag was last seen alive on 12 June, the day after his 42nd birthday, when he reportedly visited his mother, Hendrina, in Bronkhorstspruit, when he left around midnight with an unknown man.

South African Police Services (SAPS) spokesman Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the former high jump star had been shot multiple times and that his death was being treated as murder.

JACQUES FREITAG STRUGGLED WITH DRUG USE

Freitag’s sister, Chrissie Lewis, last week put out a call on social media for the public to assist in finding him.

“With sadness to say. We have to report that my brother Jacques Freitag is missing,” Lewis said in a Facebook post.

“Last seen alive 12 June. He has been dropped off in a bush in Booysens, Pretoria West.”

Lewis told reporters that Freitag had struggled with drug use after retiring, which affected their relationship.

‘We weren’t close at all over the last few years because of the drugs,’ she told Rapport.

‘I am a single mother and have had to look after my kids and protect them. 

‘He has been on drugs for most of the time.’ 

Jacques Freitag was one of only 10 athletes – including Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt – to win World Championships titles at all three levels.

He won the men’s high jump titles at the 1999 Youth World Championships in Poland, the Junior World Championships in Chile in 2000 and the Senior Championships in France in 2003.

SA HIGH JUMP RECORD HOLDER

Freitag was a four-time South African high jump champion and still holds the national record of 2.38 metres which he set in Oudtshoorn on 5 March 2005.

In 2003 he cleared 2.35 metres at the Stade de France in Paris to win the gold medal at the IAAF World Championships.

Freitag represented South Africa at the Athens Olympics in 2004, but failed to make the high jump final, clearing just 2.20 metres in qualifying.