Douw Gerbrand Grobler

Douw Gerbrand Grobler (1944 - 2003)

Brief overview:

Douw (59), a retired police captain, and his wife Frederika Jacoba (57) were found murdered on their smallholding in Cullinan, Pretoria on the night of Friday 11th July 2003.

Captain Piletji Sebola said that the couple were both shot in the head, and found in their bedroom around 21h00. The gunmen gained access to the home by breaking a window.

After shooting the couple the perpetrators ransacked the house, stealing electrical appliances and other household items, and loaded everything into Frederika's car. Sebola said Frederika died at the scene and Douw died before he could be airlifted to the hospital.

A neighbour had heard the gunshots and called the police, who found the stolen vehicle abandoned a kilometre away from the house, still loaded with what the perpetrators had taken.

Grobler was stationed at Cullinan police station before he retired in May 2003.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
  • The court heard evidence of attacks on Cullinan smallholdings since 1995. In that time, there were 12 murders and about 60 robberies or burglaries in that area.

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
  • The couple's vehicle, personal jewellery and electronic goods.
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
  • Three armed men
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • Kenny Kobai Mokalapa (23)
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • Unemployed Mokalapa, of Mamelodi East was sentenced to life and 24 years' imprisonment for the execution-style killings.
  • Acting Judge Piet van der Byl said Mokalapa must serve at least 35 years of his sentence before being considered for release.
  • Two other accused, who denied guilt, will go on trial separately in the High Court on September 20.

Additional Biographical Information:

• Identity Number : 4308305033089
• Official cause of death : Unnatural

Links to Media articles:

• http://archive.vn/90aVV
• http://archive.is/VF3lP
• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000112662150893
• https://archive.is/KaTTx