About André van Biljon
André van Biljon (1954 - 2023)
Brief overview:
André (69), father of Springbok rugby star, Lukas Van Biljon (47), passed away on Tuesday 30th May 2023, after an attack at the family farm in Oranjeville on Saturday 27th May. At around 00h30, six armed males invaded the farm house. The perpetrators tied up Lukas and kicked him, and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest with a knife. Lukas's children were also tied up with cable ties, and the attackers threatened to shoot them if he resisted. When André attempted to radio for help, he was shot three times - in the chest and hand. He was transferred to Pelonomi hospital where he was in a critical condition in the ICU for three days.
According to André's brother, Martin (49), the attackers also threatened to shoot Lukas "in front of his son" if he did not give them money.
"We are angry. It's very hard to accept. If he had died of a heart attack or another natural cause, it would have been easier. We are sitting with a lot of anger," André's sister-in-law, Miatha van Biljon (46), said about his death. Miatha is married to Martin, who was also particularly close to André. Miatha says her brother-in-law's death will be especially difficult for his wife, Christa, to come to terms with. The smallholding belongs to Lukas, but André and Christa lived in their own house on the same holding. Christa was not injured during the incident."
“The family wants to know if politicians, such as police minister Bheki Cele, will mourn André's death - and what will be done about the wave of farm and smallholding attacks and murders. "It feels like nothing is happening. Is anyone ever going to do something about the problem?”"
The perpetrators fled in a Range Rover which was later found in Strydom Street in Oranjeville. Two suspects also fled in a Toyota Camry.
"An activation plan was put into effect immediately and the police and farmers blocked off all roads. The Toyota Camry was stopped at a roadblock in Viljoenskroon, and two suspects were arrested. The police also seized the vehicle,” said police spokesperson Capt. Loraine Earle. According to Earle, these suspects, respectively 32 and 42, were to appear in the Heilbron Magistrates court on Monday 29th May. The other four suspects are still at large.
Brief Biography:
- Other Victims/Family
- Funeral/Memorial
- The Farm/Smallholding
- The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
- On 26th April farmer Francis Davidson (75), was ambushed on his farm in the Nqanqarhu district (Maclear) in the Eastern Cape. He was severely assaulted and tortured. He was beaten with a wooden beam. It is believed that paraffin was poured over him and he was burned. It also appeared that something had been pushed into Davidson's ear and it may have been set on fire. Update 29/05/2023: About a month after the horrific attack, Davidson is still in a serious condition in a private hospital. According to his family, he struggles with cognitive skills and is physically extremely impaired. Davidson suffered severe head injuries during the attack and has since undergone two brain surgeries. He also suffered massive muscle trauma and burns. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the attack and have already appeared in the local magistrate's court.
- "Farmers in South Africa are under constant threat with 333 brutal attacks mainly farms throughout the country last year with 55 murders of men, women and children. The attacks are usually highlighted by the cruelty inflicted with female victims often raped and both men and women tortured with hot irons and power tools and boiling water. Most victims are mercilessly shot dead with stabbing and strangulation the other usual causes of death. In South Africa there are 80 murders a day and over 120 rapes and the crime figures make it one of the most dangerous countries in the world to live with conviction rates extremely low."
- https://archive.is/oK5Jw (SAPS crime statistics fourth quarter 2022/ 2023 released 30/05/2023).
Attack Details:
- Date and time of attack
- around 00h30, 27/05/2023
- Weapons
- firearms and knives
- Items Stolen
- Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
- Torture, Gratuitous violence
- Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.
Perpetrator details:
- Number and Descriptions
- 6
- Arrests
- 2
- Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
- Khanye Muthi (32) and Latin Mofokeng (42)
- Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
- Trial/Conviction
- 29 May 2023: Appeared in the Heilbron Magistrates Court. The case was postponed to 5th June 2023 for a formal bail application.
- The suspects appeared again on 5th June 2023 and all charges were withdrawn against the two suspects as they could not be linked to the incident.
Additional Biographical Information:
Links to Media articles:
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André van Biljon's Timeline
| 1954 |
1954
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| 2023 |
May 30, 2023
Age 69
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Oranjeville, Fezile Dabi District Municipality, FS, South Africa
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