Johanna Maria Erasmus

Johanna "Hanna" Erasmus (1940 – 2007)

Brief overview:

Hanna (66), was found by her son on the farm Grootfontein right next to the Rietvlei View Country Estate security complex. Her throat was slit and she was possibly raped.

Insp. Police spokesperson Paul Ramaloko said the boy last saw his mother at home just before 10 a.m. in the morning before leaving. Ramaloko said there was no sign of his mother upon his return around 4 p.m.

He called in security guards from the Rietvlei View Country Estate to help search for his mother.

They followed a trail of blood and found her naked, mutilated body in bushes.

Ramaloko said at this stage it seemed as if Erasmus had been led out of the house by someone she knew and taken into the bushes. She was allegedly raped and killed there.

Brief Biography:

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

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
  • between 10:30 and 11:00
• Weapons
  • Knife or other sharp object.
• Items Stolen
  • Only a cellphone, Hanlie was still wearing her rings. “It was just a barbaric murder. The killer didn't even try to make it look like a robbery, " a neighbour said.
• 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
  • Amos Zulu (57), admitted in court that he continued with usual daily duties after slitting her throat and taking her cellphone. He has a long list of previous convictions, dating back to 1970, when he was first convicted of assault and cautioned.
  • Acting Judge Peter Mabuse convicted Amos Zulu (57), an employee of Johanna's, for her murder. Zulu pled guilty of all charges, but denied rape. Mabuse, however, found Zulu guilty of violating a corpse after hearing DNA evidence.
  • Amos Zulu, who worked as a tractor driver, admitted guilt in the Pretoria High Court to charges of murdering his employer, and stealing her cellphone. He denied guilt to a rape charge. Acting Judge Peter Mabuse however found him guilty of violating Erasmus' corpse after hearing evidence that Zulu's semen was found inside her body. Zulu had numerous previous convictions, including for assault and rape. He was sentenced to death for murder in the early 1980s. The sentence was set aside and he was released from prison after serving less than ten years.
  • The trial was postponed to June 2 for a pre-sentencing report by a probation officer. Zulu will remain in custody. No further reports can be found.

Additional Biographical Information:

• Identity Number : 4010030043082
• Cause of Death : UNNATURAL CAUSE 24/07

Links to Media articles:

• https://web.archive.org/web/20070216043823/http://www.news24.com/Be...
• https://web.archive.org/web/20110414235518/www.iol.co.za/news/south...
• https://web.archive.org/web/20131217123247/http://www.iol.co.za/new...
• http://archive.fo/LpA1V
• https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/grans-body-found-naked-on-f...
• http://archive.vn/e1Ajz
• https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/farm-worker-to-be-sentenced...
• http://archive.vn/UByXG
• https://archive.ph/6XHAH
• http://archive.fo/LpA1V
• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000194395220845
• https://archive.ph/dntuk

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Gran's body found naked on farm
Time of article published Feb 14, 2007

By Barry Bateman

The grandmother of one of the city's oldest families has been brutally murdered at the family home.

Hannah Erasmus (66), was found naked with her throat slit on Grootfontein farm, south-east of Pretoria, where generations of her family have lived since the farmhouse was built in 1863.

"She was warm-hearted and would help anyone," said her daughter, Liza Zeeman. Erasmus's son Danie said: "She wouldn't have hurt a mouse. She loved people."

Erasmus's husband died in 1993. Liza said her mother had lived on the farm since she was about 20. She and Danie were raised on the farm where they are now raising their children. "She looked after the grandchildren every day," said Danie.

Erasmus lived in a cottage near the main farmhouse, where Danie lives. Liza and her husband Daan live about 100m away.

Liza said she spoke to her mother early on Monday morning because she was supposed to pick up some items at her home. She said she called at about 12pm, but her phone was disconnected.

"That was unusual, so I started to worry," she said.

"At 2.30pm I went to her home, which was unlocked. The radio was switched on, her glasses and a cup of tea were on the table and her Jack Russel was locked in the bedroom," she said.

Liza said she searched the garden and found nothing, but she did find her mother's car keys on the bonnet of the car. "It looked as though she wanted to go somewhere, but was distracted.

"I started looking around again, but then went back home and pushed the panic button," she said.

Liza said when she called Danie to tell him of the situation, he told her that his son had heard a man's voice and a scream at about 10.30am. "When he went to investigate it was quiet. He thought nothing of it and went back to work in the workshop," said Danie.

Liza said security arrived and they searched the area. Danie suggested they search near the bullpen, from where the screams came.

It was there at about 4pm were security personnel found Erasmus's body.

She was naked, but her jewellery - including gold wedding rings, bracelets and a diamond necklace - were not taken. Nothing was missing from her home.

The family suspects Erasmus was lured out of her home and overpowered by someone she knew.

Police spokesperson Inspector Paul Ramaloko confirmed the incident. He said police were investigating a case of murder.

Erasmus will be buried at the small family cemetery on the land that has been the last resting place for several generations of Erasmus family members.

If you are aware of recent house robberies in your area, call the Pretoria News at 012 300 2108 or e-mail pta[email protected]

Meanwhile, Cornelia du Plooy reports that Tshwane's first citizen has spoken out against the rapid rise of crime in the city.

Executive mayor Dr Gwen Ramokgopa told a media briefing in the city that she was aware of the crime problem and felt particular concern and empathy for victims.

She was referring to the spate of violent crimes in suburbs in the past few months.

Mayoral spokesperson Tiny Mokwena said Ramokgopa acknowledged that there had been a shift in violent crime: "She said that criminals' focus had shifted to the more vulnerable members of the community. Women and children have become targets."

At the briefing Ramokgopa said: "These types of violent crimes require that we work closely with the community safety initiatives like Community Policing Forums. If those institutions are strengthened we are actively assisting in reducing the levels of crime."

Echoing the sentiments expressed in President Thabo Mbeki's state of the nation address, she said: "We remain concerned about crime, especially in homes and other places where our people work and live. As a city, we will work with the SAPS to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book."