Jan Grobler

Jan Grobler (1936 - 1999)

Brief overview:

Jan (63), who lived with his mother Susanna Gezina Elizabeth Grobler (86), was attacked on farm Uitkyk, in the district of Ventersdorp on 26th June 1999. Jan died in hospital from multiple gunshot wounds. His mother, who was an invalid, suffered a stroke and died two days after the attack.

Extract, and details of the attack from the Committee of Inquiry into farm attacks Report, released June 2003. (Page 98)

"Jan Grobler (60), lived with his mother (86), on the farm ‘Uitkyk’ in the district of Ventersdorp. The mother was an invalid. On 26 June 1999 Charles Montsitsi (26) broke into the house of another farm in the Ventersdorp district, where he stole several articles, including a pistol used in the attack on Grobler. (It is possible that there were other burglars involved as well.) On 10 July at about 20:15 Montsitsi, together with Dolphas Mgiqwa (26) and a third man, broke into the house of Grobler, by removing a louvre window pane at the back of the house. They had the pistol referred to above as well as a revolver, and they shot Grobler eight times, wounding him seriously. It seems that Grobler himself managed to wound Montsitsi in the knee with his hunting rifle.

The attackers took the hunting rifle and made their escape. Mrs. Grobler, who was in her room, apparently suffered a stroke during the attack and she passed away two days later. She had injuries to her body, but there is no evidence that she had been assaulted. Jan Grobler died in the Potchefstroom Hospital on 25 July 1999 as a result of the multiple bullet wounds he had sustained during the attack. After the attack Montsitsi went to an acquaintance, Johannes Lepora, on a neighbouring farm for assistance with the wound to his leg.

Lepora summoned the police, however, and Montsitsi was arrested. The pistol was also discovered near the house. Blood spots found inside Grobler’s house also came from Montsitsi. Accused Mgiqwa was linked to the crime by fingerprints found in the house. His cap was also found in the house. It is not certain what exactly happened during the attack. Both Jan Grobler and his mother were unable to make statements prior to their deaths. At their trial the accused closed their case without giving any evidence.

The accused were tried in the High Court from 12 to 16 March 2001. Montsitsi and Mgiqwa were convicted of housebreaking and robbery with aggravating circumstances as well as murder, and each sentenced to twenty years and life imprisonment on those two counts. For illegal possession of firearms they received lesser periods of imprisonment. The third person was also charged but acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Comments: This case again demonstrates the ineffectiveness of louvre windows as protection against intruders. They can be removed without breaking. This is one of several cases where the farmer is killed with firearms stolen previously at another farm. Like the previous case, the attackers received no protection from the local community. The man that the attacker went to for help rather summoned the police."

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:

• Identity Number: 3601075054082
• Official cause of death: unnatural causes

Links to Media articles:

• https://africacheck.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Final-Report-Com...
• https://www.yumpu.com/nl/document/read/4451339/laai-af-die-lys-van-...
• https://archive.is/KaTTx