Susanna van Zyl

Susanna van Zyl (1930 - 2008)

Brief overview:

Susanna (77), who lived alone and sold meat from her smallholding in Aberdeen, was allegedly raped before being stabbed to death, believed to be with a dinner fork, on 12th January 2008.

Police said Susanna was assaulted and murdered between 17:00 and 19:00. Her body was found in her bedroom, a bloodstained dinner fork lay next to her. Police spokesperson Wena Theron said a 31-year-old suspect had been arrested and would appear in court. Van Zyl's other daughter, Jolene Gunter had intended to sleep over in Aberdeen on their way back to Heidelberg. "A neighbour had to identify my mother's remains," said a shocked Toesie. "I didn't want to see how brutally she had been murdered." Theron said the police thought the suspect may have posed as someone who wanted to buy meat. "Van Zyl apparently sold meat to people in the community. We think the suspect may have forced his way in when she opened the door," said Theron. "We suspect she was strangled and then raped, but a post-mortem that will be conducted on Tuesday should shed more light on the matter." Theron said it appeared nothing had been stolen from Van Zyl's home, but she added that the case was still being investigated.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• 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
  • Elton Klaasen (31)
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • Klaasen was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the robbery and assault of Ms. Issie van Rensburg (69). He and an accomplice attacked Van Rensburg on 11 September 2004 in her home in Aberdeen.
  • Four years later he raped and murdered Susanna van Zyl, also from Aberdeen, He is already serving two life sentences for these crimes.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://web.archive.org/web/20080116002258/http://www.news24.com/Ne...
• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000187652978822
• https://graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=4279136
• https://graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=4279139