Due to the unique number of circumstances, a double Oranjeville murder has sent shivers down the spines of all South Africans.
According to the South African Police Service, a husband and woman in their mid-thirties were apprehended in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Police suspect the pair is responsible for the deaths of Johannes Van Vuuren (80) and Dorithia van Staden (58). That is both the mother and granddad of one of the suspects.
The bodies of the grandfather and mother were discovered with multiple stab wounds in the family house in Oranjeville. They were discovered after another family member checked in at the house.
“It is further alleged that when Mrs Van Staden’s husband’s futile attempts to contact his wife throughout the day had failed, a relative was sent to the house to investigate and that’s when the gruesome discovery was made,” said SAPS.
While the house was almost entirely trashed, the couple who also lived there went missing, along with their BMW and 10-year-old daughter.
When the car was located driving towards Gqeberha, an alert was dispatched to the flying squad and SAPS. On Thursday evening, members of the flying squad apprehended the pair. More than 700 kilometres from the scene of the suspected killings.
“Two people, a 36-year-old female and her husband, aged 34, were arrested and detained for two counts of murder and house robbery. Their 10-year-old daughter was taken to a place of safety. The vehicle was impounded for further investigation. It is alleged that the couple were on their way to Kariega (Uitenhage),” Colonel Priscilla Naidu, SAPS
Both the accused are now set to appear in the Heilbron Magistrate’s Court this week. They face charges of murder and house robbery.
