Leander Dercksen

Leander Dercksen (1992 – 2014)

Brief overview:

22-year-old Leander Dercksen of Soutpansdrift was shot in the head and neck on 29th March 2014, and his body left in farm fields while the robbers made off with his vehicle. One of the perpetrators, Knowledge Paulus Mandlazi (26) was sentenced to five life terms, for waging a reign of terror in the Brits area in 2014. He went on a murder and robbery spree among farmers in the area, killing five people in three months between March and June 2014.

Brief Biography:

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

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack: 29th March 2014
• Weapons: Firearm
• Items Stolen:
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.: Mandlazi claimed he was motivated by a hatred for white people because of a series of “bad experiences” with whites in the past. Judge Mothle said it was terrifying that Mandlazi described the robberies and murders as “going to work”.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions: 2
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s: Knowledge Paulus Mandlazi (28), John Tivane (31) - Mozambique
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s: Mozambique
• Trial/Conviction: Judge Billy Mothle sentenced Knowledge Paulus Mandlazi (28) of Ikaneng to five terms of life imprisonment, a further 38 years effective imprisonment on four charges of attempted murder, six of robbery, two of housebreaking and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently with the 25-year prison sentence Mandlazi is currently serving for a murder and robbery committed just two days before the Brits murder and robbery spree. John Tivane (31) of Mozambique was sentenced to life and a further 25 years effective imprisonment on three charges of murder, three of attempted murder, five of robbery and two of housebreaking.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• http://archive.is/3FOAn
• http://archive.is/U5y4S