Yesterday, a shocking scene played itself out on a farm in Welbekend, east of Pretoria. A trail of blood led a son to the badly mutilated, stark naked body of his
mother, Mrs Hanna Erasmus (65). Mrs Erasmus’s son Danie last saw her on Monday
morning at around 10 AM, shortly before he left for work. When he returned at
around 4 PM, there was no sign of her. He summoned the help of security guards
from the adjacent Rietview Country Estate, who helped in the search for her.
They followed a trail of blood into the bushes, where they found her naked
body.
Mrs Erasmus was raped, apparently by someone familiar to her, before or after
her throat was slit, and her body mutilated. A shocked resident of the Rietview
Country estate said that Mrs Erasmus still had her rings on her fingers when
her body was found. “It was a savage, barbaric murder. The murderer didn’t even
try and disguise it as a robbery.” Inspector Paul Ramaloko said police was
investigating (yeah, right) a charge of murder and rape. He said it appears Mrs
Erasmus was murdered between 10:30 and 11:00 AM yesterday.
The body of an elderly woman has been found naked in a veld in Welbekend, east
of Pretoria, police said on Tuesday. "Her neck had been slit and it
appears as if she was raped before she died," said Inspector Paul
Ramaloko.
The woman, aged between 60 and 65, was last seen alive by her son on Monday
morning when he left for work. "When he arrived from work, he became
worried when he didn't find her at their plot," Ramaloko said. The man and
a security guard went looking for the woman and discovered her body a short
distance from the plot. "No arrests have been made and a murder case has
been opened," Ramaloko said.
The
grandmother of one of the city's oldest families has been brutally murdered at
the family home. Hannah Erasmus, 66, was found naked with her throat slit on
Grootfontein farm, south-east of Pretoria, where generations of her family have
lived since the farmhouse was built in 1863. "She was warm-hearted and
would help anyone," said her daughter, Liza Zeeman. Erasmus's son Danie
said: "She wouldn't have hurt a mouse. She loved people."
'Nothing was missing
from her home'
Erasmus's husband died
in 1993. Liza said her mother had lived on the farm since she was about 20. She
and Danie were raised on the farm where they are now raising their children.
"She looked after the grandchildren every day," said Danie. Erasmus
lived in a cottage near the main farmhouse, where Danie lives. Liza and her
husband Daan live about 100m away.
Liza said she spoke to
her mother early on Monday morning because she was supposed to pick up some
items at her home. She said she called at about 12pm, but her phone was disconnected. "That was unusual, so I started to worry," she said. "At 2.30pm I went to her home, which was unlocked. The radio was switched on, her glasses and
a cup of tea were on the table and her Jack Russel was locked in the
bedroom," she said.
'Criminals' focus
had shifted to the more vulnerable members of the community'
Liza said she searched
the garden and found nothing, but she did find her mother's car keys on the
bonnet of the car. "It looked as though she wanted to go somewhere, but
was distracted. "I started looking around again, but then went back home
and pushed the panic button," she said.
Liza said when she
called Danie to tell him of the situation, he told her that his son had heard a
man's voice and a scream at about 10.30am. "When he went to investigate it
was quiet. He thought nothing of it and went back to work in the
workshop," said Danie. Liza said security arrived and they searched the
area. Danie suggested they search near the bullpen, from where the screams
came.
It was there at about 4pm were security personnel found Erasmus's body. She was naked, but her jewellery -
including gold wedding rings, bracelets and a diamond necklace - were not
taken. Nothing was missing from her home. The family suspects Erasmus was lured
out of her home and overpowered by someone she knew. Police spokesperson
Inspector Paul Ramaloko confirmed the incident. He said police were
investigating a case of murder.
Erasmus will be buried
at the small family cemetery on the land that has been the last resting place
for several generations of Erasmus family members. If you are aware of recent
house robberies in your area, call the Pretoria News at 012 300 2108 or e-mail
pta.newsdesk@inl.co.za
Meanwhile, Cornelia du
Plooy reports that Tshwane's first citizen has spoken out against the rapid
rise of crime in the city. Executive mayor Dr Gwen Ramokgopa told a media
briefing in the city that she was aware of the crime problem and felt
particular concern and empathy for victims. She was referring to the spate of
violent crimes in suburbs in the past few months.
Mayoral spokesperson
Tiny Mokwena said Ramokgopa acknowledged that there had been a shift in violent
crime: "She said that criminals' focus had shifted to the more vulnerable
members of the community. Women and children have become targets."
At the briefing
Ramokgopa said: "These types of violent crimes require that we work
closely with the community safety initiatives like Community Policing Forums.
If those institutions are strengthened we are actively assisting in reducing
the levels of crime."
Echoing the sentiments
expressed in President Thabo Mbeki's state of the nation address, she said:
"We remain concerned about crime, especially in homes and other places
where our people work and live. As a city, we will work with the SAPS to ensure
that perpetrators are brought to book."
