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About Matthys van Niekerk
Matthys "Thys" van Niekerk (1958 – 2023)
Brief overview:
Thys (65), a well-known civil engineer who lived alone on Farm Uiktyk between Cradock and Hofmyre in the Eastern Cape, was found murdered in the house, on Wednesday 30th August. He had been stabbed multiple times in the torso, and the attacker/s allegedly slit his throat.
Thys, a resident engineer at SNA Civil and Structural Engineers, did not arrive at work on Wednesday, so two of his colleagues went to look for him and found blood in the house.
According to police spokesperson W/O Majola Nkohli, who was summoned to the scene, the suspect/s stole Thys's Toyota Prado, which was later found on the Conway Road in Hofmeyr. He said that the circumstances surrounding his murder are being investigated. No one has been arrested.
Project engineer, Johan Swanepoel, said that Thys had arrived home at around 16h00 on Tuesday 29th and was killed then.
Swanepoel said that "Oom Thys", as he was known in the construction industry, he was highly regarded, especially in the field of upgrading and building national routes all around South Africa. He was best known for his excellent work in building the N4-Maputo corridor that took place between 1996 to 2010.
02/09/2023: Police are looking for Andrew Kroukamp (28), as it is believed he can assist police in solving the murder case of Matthys Van Niekerk (65), whose body was found with stab wounds at a farm near route R390 outside Cradock.
Brief Biography:
- Other Victims/Family
- Funeral/Memorial
- Remembrance Service held on 09/09/2023 at the Church Unlimited in Mombella. "It's not about how he went, but the difference he made while he was here".
- The Farm/Smallholding
- The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
- Another farm murder occurred on the same day in Kagisanong, outside Bloemfontein in the Free State. T J Tlali a 71-year-old farmer and his 64-year-old wife were brutally attacked. The farmer sustained multiple wounds to his head and body, his wife (64) was found under a mattress in critical condition.
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:
Thys grew up on a farm in the Free State, after which he obtained his degree in civil engineering at the University of Pretoria. He started working at SNA Civil and Structural Engineers shortly thereafter, and was still employed by the company up until the time of his death.
He will be remembered as a hardworking perfectionist who cared for his fellow human beings.
Links to Media articles:
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Matthys van Niekerk's Timeline
| 1958 |
February 12, 1958
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| 2023 |
August 29, 2023
Age 65
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Uitkyk Farm, Between Cradock and Hofmeyr, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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