Francois Johannes Furstenberg

Francois Johannes Furstenberg "Franz" (1940 - 1997)

Brief overview:

Franz (56), who farmed at the Kaallaagte holdings, in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, was shot in the heart, chest and stomach, and died at the scene on 2nd November 1997. Konrad de Wet was seriously injured when the perpetrators tied him up and threw more than 250kg of sacks of cement on top of him.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
  • A total of 15 people were murdered on farms or smallholdings in Gauteng Province during 1997. Besides Francois, 14 other people were murdered, predominantly farmers and their wives. 8 of the victims were elderly, between the ages of 63 and 85. A further seven non-fatal attacks occurred in the province during 1997.
  • Gerritt Venter (76) and his wife Audrey Mary Venter (75), were tied up and strangled to death in their home at the Helenarus smallholdings in Vereeniging, on 28/01/1997.
  • Susara “Sarie” Catherina Botha (85), beaten and stabbed on Rosahof Plot, Vanderbijlpark on 14/02/1997.
  • James Christiaan Lourens Keyser (63), shot dead on his farm in Rietfontein, Fochville on 09/03/1997.
  • Simon Karel Begemann (64), beaten to death in Swartspruit on 14/04/1997.
  • Stefan Brodie (26), shot dead on Footloose Trout Farm, Diepsloot smallholding, outside Centurion, Pretoria on 28/04/1997 (multiple murder).
  • Brendon Rodney Ollsson (25), shot dead on Footloose Trout Farm, Diepsloot smallholding, outside Centurion, Pretoria on 28/04/1997 (multiple murder).
  • Elsa Lottering (51) from Drie Riviere, Vereeniging was raped and her throat slit on 01/05/1997.
  • Jan Adriaan Venter (53) from Plot 41, Riverpark smallholding, Vereeniging, was murdered in his garden on 07/06/1997.
  • Roger Bartel (71) was stabbed to death on his Pendale smallholding outside Daleside on 23/10/1997.
  • Maria Jacobs (32) from Elandsfontein Farm, Bapsfontein, was stabbed 17 times and shot in the head on 06/11/1997.
  • Gerhardus Johannes Hoenderdos (72) from Muldersdrift, was suffocated to death on 04/12/1997.
  • Frans Thomas Ignatius Grobler (76) from Homefire Farm, Kromdraai, Krugersdorp was shot on 19/12/1997, he died due to complications on 15/02/98.
  • Roland Franz Ehrenberger (53) was shot in the chest, arm and leg on his smallholding in De Deur on 22/12/1997.
• Non-fatal attacks during 1997:
  • 22/01/1997: Mrs. AC Wessels (67), admitted to hospital with serious head wounds she had suffered during an attack after being assaulted and beaten, on her smallholding in Tweefontein, Bronkhorstpruit.
  • May 1997: Lourens Erasmus, attacked at Kya Sands smallholding, Randfontein.
  • 07/06/1997: Eduan Du Pontes (22), his mother, Theresa (55), and farm worker Sekorokete (23), were attacked at their farmstall. Theresa was shot in the stomach, and one attacker was shot dead. Boksburg North.
  • 29/10/1997: Cornelius Powell (94), attacked on his farm with slashers (panga's) and then locked up at his farm in Hekpoort. He was admitted to hospital in a critical condition.
  • 04/10/1997: Danie Crafford, his wife Connie, and their two daughters, were attacked by an armed gang of 4 men on their Cullinan smallholding. Connie was whip lashed with a gun and suffered a cut in the head, Danie was nicked with a bullet, and the children were locked up in the boot of their car.
  • 25/12/1997: Martie Booyse, was overpowered inside her home at Leeufontein holdings, Kameeldrif, and stabbed repeatedly with a knife before she managed to escape.
  • 26/12/1997: Mike Richardson (72), and his wife Elspeth (65) were attacked whilst in their bed at their smallholding in Schurveberg. The couple was pistol whipped and robbed.

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction

Additional Biographical Information:

• Makenda Sales (Pty) Ltd, Bloemfontein
• "The company was established in 1980 by Mr. Francois Johannes Furstenberg who was the sole owner until his tragic death on 2 November 1997. During April 1998 the Company moved to Bloemfontein under management of Mrs I.M. Senekal (Furstenberg). On 1 October 2011 both branches moved to a larger building in Lombard street where we strive to render the best possible service to all our existing and new customers. Makenda Sales suppliers of top quality Engines, Lawnmowers, Plate Compactors, High Pressure Washers, Generators, Replacement & Genuine Spares, Yanmar, Kubota, Hoffmann, Kohler, Robin, Ride-on Lawnmowers, Garden Equipment, Fire-fighters, Builders Equipment, Lasher tools, Pumps. After a whole year at work tackling heavy growth, it is surely time for your brushcutter to take a break. To ensure you get off to a good start again after the winter, there are one or two points to bear in mind when putting it into storage."
  • https://archive.is/wUmCC
  • https://archive.is/heFY7
• Official cause of death : Unnatural causes

Links to Media articles:

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0UlqSM-_mwDNWJlZmMxNmYtNGMwMS00Yz...
• https://www.yumpu.com/nl/document/read/4451339/laai-af-die-lys-van-...