Glynis Colleen de Bruin

Glynis de Bruin (1960 - 2020)

Brief overview:

Glynis (60), wife of farm manager, Danie (58), and her father, Colin Schwegman (87), were murdered at Farm Hoegelee, at Bishopstowe outside Pietermaritzburg, on 14th December 2020. The family was hacked with bush knives (panga's) and believed to be shot dead. The perpetrators then set the cane plantation alight. The attack happened around 18h00.

A source at the scene said one man’s body was found lying dead in what looked like a tool shed, while the other two family members’ bodies were found inside the house. The source said they were not sure if anything was stolen by the attackers as yet, but they suspect that money was taken as the farmworkers were due to be paid on Tuesday morning. The fridge in the kitchen was apparently also ransacked.

Clinton Diedericks, the owner of Hoegelee Farm, confirmed that the suspects were known to the family.

"CWP Security Services director Sibongiseni Sibiya, who was among those who responded to the emergency call, said the motive for the attack was not yet known. Sibiya said law enforcement officers were still combing the scene for clues that could help them catch the suspects."

"KZN police spokesperson Thembeka Mbele said it is alleged that two weeks ago there was a labour dispute between the Danie de Bruin and his employees. Mbele said Danie was found few metres away from the main house, his wife Glynis was found dead in the kitchen and Collin Schwegman was found dead just outside his room."

On 15th December two suspects were arrested at Swapo informal settlement in Copesville, both former employees, aged 27 and 35. They will appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 17th December 2020 where they will be facing murder charges.

On 17th December 2020 Lizo Mdukani (36), and Thembelani Majola (27), were charged with three counts of murder and one of armed robbery, in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court.

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
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
  • ”After an intensive investigation, early [on Tuesday] morning the Bishopstowe detectives with the assistance of the Mountain Rise K9 Unit arrested two suspects aged 27 and 35 at Swapo informal settlement in Copesville. They will appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 17 December 2020 where they will be facing murder charges.”
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • 26/07/2023: "Representing the state, deputy director of Public Prosecutions advocate Candy Kander led DNA evidence placing the men at the scene of the crime. They further had the deceased’s blood on their clothing. Kander handed in victim impact statements facilitated by court preparation officer Mbali Komane and compiled by the deceased’s family members. According to Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the regional spokesperson of the NPA, all the statements spoke of the undeserving brutality that the deceased would have suffered. “The family said that there is now a void in their lives, and they were struggling to get over what happened. They said that the flashbacks of the crime scene are fixed in their memory. The men were sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for each of the three murders and 15 years’ imprisonment for the robbery,” she said. The NPA welcomes the sentence and commends the work done by the prosecution and investigation teams. “We hope that sentences of this nature will serve as a deterrent to like-minded individuals,” she concluded." *https://archive.is/AFnNE

Additional Biographical Information:

Tribute: Pieter Van Der Westhuizen - Wall of Remembrance.

It is with regret that we learn of the murder of Daniel Casper De Bruin (OVBH0342 / 78512654BG ex 5SAI).

Danie, his wife and his father were killed last night on their farm at Bishopstowe outside Pietermaritzburg. Our deepest condolences to other members of the family as well as to all his "fellow brothers" from Bungalow # 16. RIP

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/5JdFT
• https://archive.is/ydteL
• https://archive.is/A4Qdr
• https://archive.is/TEiUM
• https://archive.is/QcBEq
• https://archive.is/xkxv0
• https://archive.is/Auh1b
• https://archive.is/E9xa1
• https://archive.is/NDi4c
• https://archive.ph/SOpnO
• https://www.facebook.com/ChrisPappasDA/posts/2919152478296099
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1482406205171311/permalink/35499883...
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 19 2023, 20:36:02 UTC