Marius John MacDonald

Marius John MacDonald (1968 - 2008)

Brief overview:

Marius (40) a scientist and chemist living with his family and his wife's young brother on a smallholding between Kameeldrift and Leeufontein, was shot in the lower body, by three armed men, inside his homestead at 1am on 26th October 2009. The three perpetrators, one of whom was named Oscar, broke into the MacDonalds home through a window.

They pressed a firearm against Marius's son Gareth (12) and told him to call his parents. MacDonald's brother-in-law Wiekus Moolman (21), hid in a cupboard, and recounts the details - "When my sister and Marius opened their room door, there were already two robbers at that door, Marius took a step forward, and they shot him and he fell to the floor. MacDonald's wife, Leonara (30) stood behind him and his son Jason (2) next to him. Gareth was on the stairs. The attackers tied Gareth on his parents' bed with shoelaces, then they got Leonora, with Jason in her arms, to take them to the safe. She gave them the keys and the perpetrators took four firearms. They then asked for cell phones and keys. mrs. MacDonald forced to sort out the home, gate and car keys.

The attackers were going to tie my sister to Marius, but she was still holding Jason. They made Gareth kneel down beside his father and tied his hands and feet behind his back. Marius was asking for help and water, but when my sister wanted to help him, they threatened to shoot her. The attackers loaded the television, laptop, computer, four firearms and other electrical goods into the MacDonald's Volkswagen Polo. MacDonald died five minutes before they left. I could hear everything going on and felt so helpless. The police arrived not long after the attackers had left."

Const. Police spokesperson Mabel Sibanda said a case of murder was being investigated. Nobody was arrested.

No further updates can be found.

Information shared by Marius’ sister, Liz Nel (nee MacDonald) on a discussion forum:

"Marius John MacDonald was my youngest brother. He was 40 years old and a brilliant scientist. He was shot in the stomach in his house in the early hours of the morning at Leeuwfontein, Roodeplaat, Pretoria on 26 October 2008 and took 1 hour to die, while his wife and two young boys were held hostage and made to watch. The Africans who did this came to steal guns and computers from his house.

POSTED BY LIZ NEL (NEE MACDONALD) | NOVEMBER 19, 2015"

Brief Biography:

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

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
  • Early hours of the morning on 26th October 2008
• Weapon
  • Firearm
• Items Stolen
  • 4 Firearms, a laptop computer, TV, electrical items, vehicle
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
  • Police spokesperson Mabel Sibanda
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
  • Victim left to die a slow death, firearm held against son's head, family members being threatened to be shot.
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
  • 3 all armed
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • One who was named Oscar
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188598166928
• https://web.archive.org/web/20081027225504/http://www.news24.com/Be...
• http://censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.com/2008/10/sa-chemist-marius...