Brand family given moving send-off

Mourners asked not to bear anger

Devastated loved ones gathered yesterday to give a heartfelt send-off to the Brand family‚ brutally murdered in Hartswater in the Northern Cape.

The funeral service took place at the Noorderharts Gemeente Magogong.

Danie‚ 83‚ and Breggie Brand‚ 73‚ and their daughter Elzabie‚ 54‚ were found dead in the Taung area.

They went missing after allegedly being attacked on their farm. Danie’s vehicle‚ a Nissan Micra‚ was found close to Taung and Elzabie’s silver Mazda was found on the N18 close to Pudimoe.

While the killings were greeted with disbelief and outrage‚ mourners were urged not to bear anger in their hearts because it would “turn into hate”.

At the front of the church were three burning candles‚ colourful flowers and a framed photograph of Danie‚ Breggie and Elzabie.

Family members sobbed while a slide show played‚ depicting photos of the three.

“The death of Dan‚ Breggie and Elzabie did not only touch you‚ but all of us. The manner in which they died is unacceptable‚ not only to you as a family‚ but to all of us‚” pastor Martin Coetzer told the congregants. Coetzer asked the community not to bear anger in their hearts because “it will turn into hate”.

In a letter read out by a family member‚ a former colleague praised Breggie for always working hard and going above and beyond for those she cared for and loved.

“I am sorry that I couldn’t be with you guys today. We were all sad when we found out what happened. Breggie’s family was always priority and she always drew strength from her Christian faith.

“She always made sure that her girls were properly educated... We will always miss Breggie‚” the letter read.