Petrus Frans Jacobus Venter

Frans Venter (1954 - 2022)

Brief overview:

Frans (68), was alone at the farmhouse after his wife had left for work at 09:00. He was attacked and brutally assaulted and then hacked to death with pangas. The police report that at least four attackers were involved in the violent murder of the farmer.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
  • The gardener was first overpowered, and tied up with electrical cable. The domestic worker responded to his screams, but was then also overpowered and tied up.
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
  • farm in Modderfontein, near Rustenburg
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
  • Frans Venter's life partner, Dr. Tini De Boer (53), was attacked at the same farm at 08h50 on Friday 3rd March 2023. She was overpowered and assaulted by five males at the gate when she was leaving the property. One of them was wearing a balaclava. "One of the men approached me with a knife when another shouted: 'Doctor, they are not going to kill you.' It was surprising to me that he knew that I was a doctor." "I just did what they said, because I knew I didn't stand a chance against five armed men." One of them pointed a firearm at Tini and forced her into the back of her vehicle, and tied up her hands and legs. They then drove the vehicle back to the farm house, and ransacked the house. "They had already stolen Frans's watch around my arm and my keys," said Tini.
  • They stole several items, including mobile phones, a loudspeaker, jewellery, clothes, a laptop and an unloaded pistol. "By about 10:30 the men were gone." She then began to untie the electrical cables and shoelaces around her hands, elbows and feet. "I don't know how I freed myself, but I did and was then able to run to the neighbours to call the police."
  • When asked if she now fears for her life after the attack, she answers without a moment's hesitation: "The day they killed Frans, they took everything from me, including fear." Tini told Maroela Media that she has a strong suspicion that her attack and Venter's murder are connected. She also claims that the attack and murder were meticulously planned. "The police are obviously investigating the motive behind me and Frans's attacks. It is clear to me that the perpetrators want the farm and they think that if something happens to me, they can take the farm. I am now the target and they will do anything to get me off the farm. I also have a good idea who is behind the attack and murder and they will not get away." According to De Boer, after Venter's death she had a premonition that something "like this" (her attack) would happen. "It is clear that this was not just an ordinary farm attack."
  • "De Boer also said that the information surrounding Frans's death that was distributed to the public and the media at the time is false, but did not want to expand on it further. She remembers well the morning of Venter's murder. "He pulled the car out for me and gave me a kiss and said: 'I'll talk to you later'. I'm still waiting for that.” She was informed at work at around 10:30 that she had to go to the farm. "I suspected something had happened to Frans, because I hadn't heard anything from him and if there was trouble on the farm, he would have told me about it.” De Boer found Venter dead in the living room. "I cannot describe the feeling I experienced when I saw him lying there.” Two suspects were arrested shortly after the murder and are still in custody, according to De Boer. She believes the masterminds behind the murder are still at large. "We are looking for the masterminds behind the murder, not just the pawns," said De Boer."
  • De Boer says her aim in life is to see that Venter's murderers are prosecuted and to continue his legacy. A friend of Venter's who lives in the USA has offered 2,000 dollars (about R37,289) as a reward for any information that may lead to the arrest of the culprits.
    • https://archive.is/RzM42

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
  • Pangas (machetes) and knives were found at the scene
• Items Stolen
  • The suspects were found in possession of cellular phones, a clap pistol with blank rounds, a BB gun, as well as a bag containing other stolen items
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
  • Venter was attacked brutally and hacked to death
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
  • At least four attackers
• Arrests
  • One attacker was arrested and was found in possession of firearms, clothes and other items that were stolen during the attack. The police tracked down a second attacker later in the day. At least two other suspects are being sought
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • Believed to be in their late 20’s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • Both suspects, will appear in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 23 September 2022, on charges of murder and house robbery.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/ZEwt8
• https://archive.is/J20oT
• https://web.archive.org/web/20220923160351/https://southafricatoday...
• https://web.archive.org/web/20220923161531/https://www.iol.co.za/ne...
• https://web.archive.org/web/20220923161811/https://www.saps.gov.za/...
• https://web.archive.org/web/20220923161707/https://www.sapeople.com...
• https://archive.ph/drDrj
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 12 2023, 18:42:47 UTC