Preston Davids, a judo champion and coach, was killed on Monday, August 3. The 29-year-old rising star was stabbed to death in Bellville South by two men.
According to Davids’ brother Grant Quantenay, the incident started after a late-night game of pool at the local clubhouse on Sunday, August 2. Someone tried to start an argument with Davids but was thrown out of the clubhouse and then ripped the windscreen wipers off of Davids’s car, Quantenay tells TimesLIVE.
The man, along with his cousin, later attacked Davids’ cousin with knives and then Davids reportedly intervened, which lead to the men stabbing Davids to death in the early hours of Monday morning.
Two suspects, aged 26 and 28, have been arrested, confirms Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana.
“Bellville South police are investigating a case of murder after a 29-year-old man was stabbed at 3.15am,” she said.
Once formally charged, they will appear at the Bellville magistrate’s court.
Davids is survived by his younger brothers Grant Quanteney (27) and an unnamed 17-year-old high school student, reports Times Live. Their parents passed away several years ago.
Davids was an impressive figure in the judo world. He had won the gold medal at the South African Open in 2013, competed at many African Championships and African Judo Tournaments and took home a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Championships in 2016, according to Judo Inside. He also coached young aspiring judokas.