Francois Janse van Rensburg

Francois 'Frans' Janse van Rensburg (1970 – 1997)

Brief overview:

Frans (27), a young Steynsburg farmer was bludgeoned to death at the weekend on 22nd December 1997, his body was found yesterday by a neighbour, police said.

Inspector Merleen von Caues said Frans who worked alone as a foreman on Komkommerhoek farm on the Steynsburg-Middelburg road, had last been seen on Saturday.

He was found at 4pm yesterday on the floor of his small flatlet by Mr Frans Vermaak. His legs had been tied up and he had been hit very hard with a heavy object, Insp Von Caues said. He had also been wounded, apparently stabbed, in the neck.

A window had been broken and it appeared that the intruder had been waiting for him inside the premises. He definitely tried to defend himself. There were lots of signs of wrestling and he obviously put up a fight, Insp Von Caues said.

Extract from 'Van Rensburg's Victims of Crime':

"Brothers jailed for murder of farmer, DISPATCH DEC 16, 1998

GRAHAMSTOWN - Two men who battered a young Steynsburg farm manager to death with a tractor shaft were yesterday sentenced by the high court here to effective prison terms of 19 and 24 years.

The victim's elderly mother, Mrs Leonie van Rensburg, who has lost three of her four sons, said: "It's nothing to murder these days because they don't get punished. The death sentence should definitely come back."

Mr Janse Van Rensburg died from multiple blows inflicted with a one-metre-long tractor shaft weighing 4kg. The judge said it weighed heavily against the pair that they had lain in wait for their victim in a barn adjoining the house for two days before breaking in and launching the deadly assault. Before passing sentence he said: "The items stolen were luxury goods and the motive was naked greed, not need.”"

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
  • A white Nissan bakkie with registration BNR 891 EC and a hi-fi were missing.
• 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
  • Acting Judge Selby Mbenenge sentenced brothers Ndoysile Fose, 28, and Thembinkosa Bunta, 33, for the murder and robbery of Mr Francois Janse van Rensburg, 27, of Komkommerhoek farm in December last year. The pair were also given 10 and 12-year sentences for robbery which will run concurrently with the jail terms for murder. Bunta was given the stiffer term of 24 and 12 years because of previous convictions for housebreaking. Immediately after sentencing Judge Mbenenge granted leave to appeal against conviction and sentence in terms of section 316 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977.

Additional Biographical Information:

• Identity Number : 7009185199084
• Official cause of death : Unnatural death

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/sLkCV
• http://web.archive.org/web/20001117075800/http://www.dispatch.co.za...
• http://web.archive.org/web/20000115195157/http://www.dispatch.co.za...
• http://web.archive.org/web/19991005015121/http://www.dispatch.co.za...
• https://www.yumpu.com/nl/document/read/4451339/laai-af-die-lys-van-...
• https://archive.is/y94a7