Hendrik Nel

Hendrik "Hein" Nel (1981 - 2006)

Brief overview:

Hein (26), was tied up with shoelaces and strangled to death in a flat in Port Elizabeth which he rented out. Natasha Dziwonwu (31), one of the killers, had a few different versions of the event once she was arrested. "We strangled him." "Nigerians strangled him." "My co-accused and a friend strangled him." Dziwonu’s and Jongisizwe Mamase (28) were accused of murder and robbery of Nel's death in October 2006. The Port Elizabeth High court heard that, "His body was found under a single bed in Dziwonu's bedroom, and that Dziwonu had told inspector Jackie Grobler on the day of her arrest that she had strangled Nel.” She later told Grobler she and her friends had strangled him.

However, in a statement made in front of a magistrate, she stated that two Nigerians had killed Nel. According to documents, she heard Nel and two Nigerians arguing in front of her door on the day of Nel's murder. The two men, who had a gun, allegedly dragged Nel into her flat, tied his hands and feet with shoelaces and robbed him. They then covered him with a duvet, kicked him, strangled him with shoelaces and hid his body under the single bed. She then gave yet another version in court. She said Mamase and his "Xhosa-speaking friend" robbed and killed Nel.

According to Dziwonu, Mamase and the friend were at her flat when Nel arrived. She allegedly handed the rent money to Nel, but before he could leave, Mamase and his friend grabbed him and threatened him with a knife, and then strangled him with a rope and hid his body. Mamase denied this and said he only took part in the robbery, and left while Nel was still alive. Mamase’s legal representative, James Reily, wanted to know from Dziwonu why she had changed her testimony. She claimed it was the truth, except for the part about the Nigerians. Phumeza Ntomi, one of Dziwonu's friends, testified that Dziwono had asked her on October 3 if she knew someone who could drive a car and had a gun. Dziwonu allegedly told Ntomi she was going to grab a white man, tie him up and kill him two days later.

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

Additional Biographical Information:

• Official cause of death : Unnatural causes (Case Ref: MRDR 724/2006)

Links to Media articles:

• https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/I-am-going-to-kill-a-white-...
• http://archive.is/MUuSb
• http://archive.fo/JNvQv
• http://archive.fo/0MO5X