Johanna Catharina van Niekerk

Johanna 'Kosie' van Niekerk (1925 - 2004)

Brief overview:

Kosie (79), and her employee Tororo Elias Tsholo (43), were murdered on Dankbaardheid Farm, outside Bethlehem, on 23rd August 2004, when five armed males gained entry to the property. They were both shot dead. Johanna had been stabbed and her throat slit, Elias was reportedly strangled, before being shot.

Christina Mokoena, a domestic worker, was shot in the abdomen. At the time of going to the press Christina was in critical condition. It is not known as to whether she succumbed to her injuries.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
  • Tororo Elias Tsholo (43)
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
  • Farm Dankbaardheid
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
  • 23rd August 2004
• Weapons
  • Firearm
• Items Stolen
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
  • Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, investigating officer Warrant Officer Nkosana Maseko
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Thapelo Samuel Mokoena (who also goes by the surname of Mlangeni), was arrested, but escaped from the holding cells in Makwane on 27th July 2005, a day before the sentencing.
• Number and Descriptions
  • 5
• Arrests
  • “The injured employee managed to alert the police who swiftly responded and made an arrest on Mokoena and four other suspects, including a 17-year old youth who worked on the farm” said Brigadier Motantsi Makhele.
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • Thapelo Samuel Mokoena
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • Escaped from the holding cells in Makwane on 27th July 2005, a day before the sentencing.
  • On 12th August 2020 Thapelo Mokoena was re-arrested. Appeared in the Free State's Bethlehem Magistrate Court on Friday 14th August 2020
  • On 2nd June 2021 Thapelo Mokoena (47) was sentenced as follows: Two life imprisonment sentences for the two murders. 10 years each for two attempted murders. The sentences will run concurrently.

Additional Biographical Information:

• Identity Number : 2507170004081
• Cause of death : Unnatural BDR352/2004
• https://archive.is/o0O4N

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/lhQXs
• https://archive.is/NTSyg
• http://archive.is/YlxNh
• http://archive.is/4aXob
• http://archive.is/WETEg
• http://archive.is/ozdgY
• https://archive.is/w0JzJ
• https://archive.ph/CWCiu
• https://archive.ph/JcAmE
• https://www.yumpu.com/nl/document/read/4451339/laai-af-die-lys-van-...
• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000193093150844

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• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Feb 6 2023, 17:18:22 UTC