The murder of an estate agent
T he hope that one day, the person who took the life of a dear one might be brought to book, is sometimes the only thing that gives a family the strength to carry on.
Eight years ago, on 6 August 2010, the Janse van Vuuren family lost their eldest son and brother when André Janse van Vuuren (30), a local estate agent, was found murdered at his business premises in York Street. He was the owner of André van Vuuren Eiendomme and previously worked as a police reservist with ties to the DA and Cope in George. Many believe Janse van Vuuren's death might have had some connection to diamond smuggling. His mom, Laetitia Janse van Vuuren, believes that André's involvement with the investigation of a drug syndicate cost him his life. She says she will never give up hope that her son's murderer will one day be caught.
Strangled at office
André Janse van Vuuren's death came as a great shock to his family and wife of 18 months, Drienie, who found his body at his office premises with a cord wound several times around his neck.
In the timeline of events on that fateful day, the victim was home at 15:30 and briefly saw his wife when she dropped by from work. However, when she returned home later the afternoon and he had not pitched by 17:00 as usual, she was worried.
According to Laetitia Janse van Vuuren he received a call and went back to his office. Neighbours at his workplace saw him buying yogurt around 17:00 at a nearby shop. However, he didn't answer his phone when his mother tried to call him at 17:12. When a friend told Janse van Vuuren's wife that his car was parked outside the workplace, she went there to check, thinking his phone's battery might be flat. His car was locked, with a money bag inside. One of the office doors was open but the security door was locked and the keys were inside, on the edge of a table. The secretary had to bring another set of keys to let his wife into the office. She found his body in the back office. He was lying flat on his face, with a cord around his neck.
Manner of death: homicide
The autopsy report states his cause of death as "homicide/ strangulation/ neck blunt trauma".
In a recent response on the case, Southern Cape police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said initially no foul play was suspected, therefore no arrests were made. An inquest docket was opened for further investigation. Pojie said the docket has now been fully investigated and submitted to the George Court, who will soon indicate when a formal inquest will be heard in court.
"We do not consider the matter to be a cold case as the investigation has not ceased yet, neither has the docket been closed. Judgement in the investigation will be passed by the court as soon as the formal inquest had served before such court," said Pojie. "It needs to be noted that close friends, associates and relatives were questioned whilst all clues were followed up.”
Diamonds and friends
Earlier in 2010, six months before his death, André Janse van Vuuren appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court together with former Sgt Brendan Esterhuizen of George Police, in connection with the possession of illegal diamonds to the value of R42 000. Janse van Vuuren was a police reservist at the time. They were arrested in December 2009 by members of the provincial organised crime investigation unit of George and Cape Town. Van Vuuren died before the trial in October 2014.
Esterhuizen was found guilty on a charge of possession and selling of illegal, unpolished diamonds. He was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended for five years.