Two families lay claim to body
KOMATIPOORT - The man whose body was discovered on the N4 on Saturday, has been postively identified as Hennie de Beer, a Machadodorp resident.
This left another family heartbroken as they were convinced that the body was that of their missing brother.
The body of a white male, possibly in his late 40s, was found by pedestrians next to the N4 near the Mjejane settlement and Hectorspruit.
The man was found dressed only in underwear and one shoe.
Police urged the community to help identify him. According to Const Natacia Mbuyane, the station’s spokesman, injuries to his head were consistent with being hit with a panga. An inquest was opened.
The man’s description and photos taken at the scene, but not of his face, were widely circulated on Facebook.
The message spread far and wide and two parties contacted the investigating officer,
Capt Louis Stander, and positively identified the deceased.
Family and friends travelled to the state morgue in Tonga yesterday (Monday) to identify whether the deceased was Hennie van der Merwe of Sunwich Port in KwaZulu-Natal or Hennie de Beer of Machadodorp.
De Beer was last heard from on Friday night, when he told a tenant, who leases a property from him, that he would be home late.
The tenant was working away from home and got worried when he struggled to get a hold of De Beer over the weekend.
Johan Cloete, a family friend, was notified and contacted the Komatipoort SAPS when he heard that a body had been found.
Martie Loots told Lowvelder that her brother, Hennie van der Merwe (60), went missing from the South Coast town on the morning of July 1.
His fianceé last saw him the morning before she went to work.
When she got home the pensioner was gone, though his phone was still there.
A case was opened at the Port Shepstone SAPS.
The family started searching, posting missing posters and following leads after he was reportedly spotted in an informal settlement in Margate.
The family were notified of the person found in Komatipoort and positively identified Van der Merwe after a detective sent them a picture of his face.
However, later the same day the body was positively identified as De Beer’s by his tenant. Police confirmed this, adding that Van der Merwe’s brother also viewed the body on Monday morning. He confirmed that it was in fact not his brother.
Van der Merwe has two brothers, four sisters, four children and two grandchildren.
He is known for his gentle disposition, is a people person and always tries to make others’ lives more comfortable.
He is also well-known in his church, and his sister said that he would not even harm a fly.
The search for Van der Merwe continues.