Joop van Reeuwyk

Joop van Reeuwyk (1936 - 2022)

Brief overview:

Joop (86), a flower farmer from Mooinooi, near Brits, and his wife, Carla (85), were attacked on their farm on Monday 8th August 2022. The couple was asleep in their bedroom when apparently in the region of three perpetrators broke through a window in their television room. They were beaten on their heads with an iron bar, and Joop was also allegedly strangled. Both Joop and Carla sustained fractured skulls.

At some point Joop did manage to radio for help. "There could possibly have been more suspects, but the area is so wooded that the group could not see more than three men," said police spokesperson Col. Adéle Myburgh. She added that the attack appeared to be extremely brutal. "It is not yet clear in which room the attack took place, but blood was found all around the house," she said.

Although Joop showed signs of improvement, he took a turn for the worst and passed away in Milpark Hospital's intensive care unit on October 2nd 2022, four days before his 87th birthday.

The couples daughter, Astrid Poorter said, "We are now focusing on my mother's health and on opening fire among the police to catch the attackers and thus protect the community from future attacks and theft."

"We as a family are outraged by the attack and the fact that no one has been arrested yet. "We are not at all pleased with the police's [handling of the case]. We want answers and know that the attackers will be apprehended. My parents had been bought several times in the last few months. Dad went to the police station, but ultimately nothing was done," Poorter also said.

Only a mobile phone and a laptop were stolen.

Col. Adele Myburgh confirmed that the charge of attempted murder on Joop has been changed to one of murder, and that the investigation continues.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
  • Joop's cremation service was held on Monday 10th October 2022.
• 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:

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/q9xcF
• https://archive.is/L9fea