(Archive photo: Elisma van der Watt/Maroela Media)
The police on Orkney in North West are investigating a case of murder and defeat of justice after a 71-year-old man’s charred body was found in a panel van near a shaft in this town.
Lt. Col. Sam Tselanyane, police spokesperson in the North West, says the preliminary investigation indicates that mine security informed the police at 06:00 on Wednesday about a burnt out vehicle in a remote field behind the shaft.
Once there, the police found a charred body in the back of a panel van. The victim was identified as Willie Niemann.
“Further investigation of the vehicle led investigators to a home address in Orkney. The home was locked and they were unable to immediately gain entry.”
According to Tselanyane, the officers saw traces of blood in the driveway leading to a neighbour’s house.
“It was later established that the alleged suspect and the victim are neighbours,” says Tselanyane.
The police gained access to the neighbour’s house, which was not locked.
A firearm was seized which is suspected to have been used to commit the murder. The police also found some of Niemann’s belongings, including his mobile phone, there.
Tselanyane says a 20-year-old suspect was located in a local hospital. He was apprehended and is being treated under police guard. It is unclear why the man had to receive treatment.
Maj. Gen. Ryno Naidoo, acting provincial police commissioner in the North West, strongly condemned the murder.
Niemann’s granddaughter Lindsey writes in a Facebook post that she cannot believe that “people could be so cruel to take grandpa away from us”.
“I hope grandpa knows that I love grandpa so, so, so much. I will never forget grandpa! Love grandpa so much,” her post read.
The DA expressed its shock at the incident and says the murder serves as a clear reminder that too many South Africans still live under the constant threat of violent crime.
Jeanne Adriaanse, DA MP and constituency head of the Matlosana municipality, says communities are increasingly subjected to violent criminals who show little regard for human life, dignity or the rule of law.
“Of particular concern is the vulnerability of elderly residents, who should be able to enjoy their retirement years in safety and peace. Instead, many live with the fear of becoming victims of violent crime in their own homes and communities.”
The DA urgently calls on the police to deploy all available resources to ensure that those responsible are identified, arrested and successfully prosecuted.
The party says the victim’s family deserves answers and the community justice.
“Crime cannot become the accepted reality of daily life. Every resident has the constitutional right to safety and security, and the government has a responsibility to ensure that criminals fear the consequences of their actions,” says Adriaanse.
She says the murder once again highlights the urgent need for greater visible policing, better equipped detective services and a criminal justice system that has swift and meaningful consequences for violent offenders.