In a fairly ominous Facebook message, his cousin, Steven, wrote on Wednesday afternoon that the 47-year-old is “fighting for his life” and is in a “critical condition in ICU”.

Drotske had been shot following an armed robbery on his brother’s smallholding just outside Pretoria at the end of last month.

“I truly believe Our Heavenly Father has got some bigger plans for him and his future,” the post stated further.

The former Cheetahs coach had been doing reasonably well following two surgeries and was discharged last Thursday to go and recover at home in Bloemfontein.

However, unconfirmed reports allege that Drotske has now contracted septicemia.

According to Netwerk24, Mediclinic Bloemfontein’s spokesperson, Barbara Steenkamp, confirmed that he had been admitted at around 23:00 on Tuesday night after feeling “dizzy”.

The news follows Afriforum questioning the police’s handling of the case, specifically citing ‘negligent’ evidence collection.

The Citizen