The police urge anybody with information to come forward so that they may arrest a suspect(s) and proceed with prosecution.
The search for the Witbooi, who was reported missing on July 27, 2012, evoked much emotion among community members who claimed at the time that the police were not doing enough to find her. Her naked body was eventually found in Chapel Street near the Hornlee Clinic on August 5, 2012.
Family members, community members and Knysna executive mayor, Georlene Wolmarans, mobilised themselves in the search for the missing mother. It was alleged that only once there had been a public outcry and when Wolmarans demanded action be taken immediately, did Knysna Fire Brigade officials and Law Enforcement officers begin to help with the extensive search in and around Hornlee for a woman who would sadly turn out to be another murder victim.
In 2012, Witbooi's mother, Irene Luiters, said that she had a feeling prior to the discovery of Witbooi's body that her daughter was already dead. "I just had a feeling that something bad had happened to her. A mother knows. I just did not feel her presence anymore," said Luiters. "The most important thing to me was finding her body, so that I could live in peace. Not knowing where she was, was the hardest thing I ever had to endure."
Witbooi had been missing for ten days when her body was discovered in the early hours of Monday, August 6, behind a Telkom substation in the vicinity of Chapel Street, Hornlee. It was alleged at the time that the person with whom she had last been seen, led the search party to her body at about 00:50, after this person had been taken into police custody for questioning at about 18:00 the previous day.
According to Captain Malcolm Pojie, SAPS media liaison officer, the discovery was made when Knysna detectives followed up information about Witbooi's last known whereabouts, and said information was received during questioning of those who had been seen with her around the time of her disappearance. "The half-naked body of the deceased was covered with an old mattress and debris, in a shallow ditch."
However, according to members who were part of a search party mobilised on Thursday, August 2, Witbooi's body lay on top of the mattress, while a carpet and tree branches covered her half-naked body. According to a family friend, apart from the blood on her face, there were also marks on her neck and face. The family friend noticed this when they were asked to identify the body at the Knysna Pathology Service on Monday, August 6.
No arrest then, no arrest now
At the time of the murder, Pojie said that no one had been arrested in connection with Witbooi's death. However, residents of Hornlee, including relatives, were up in arms about this immediately. "How can he say that no one has been arrested when the suspect who was questioned on Sunday evening led us straight to her body? He even admitted to having had sex with her on the night of her disappearance. Surely, this is enough evidence to keep him in custody while the case is being investigated," said Luiters.
According to a reliable source, the person questioned by the police at the time was found at his home on Sunday, August 5. He was later taken to the Knysna Fire Department where he agreed to take members of the search party to the body. The suspect allegedly admitted to having had sex with her at a different location.
The suspect alleged that two other men had stumbled upon them and that the two unknown men had asked him to give them an opportunity to have sex with her as well. It was further alleged that the two unknown men had threatened to kill him and burn down his house should he say anything about the incident. The man allegedly fled the scene, leaving Witbooi with the two men.
"How could they release this man when he admitted to sex with my daughter. If he was so innocent, why did he not search for help when the two men attacked them. Why wait a week to show us where her body is? If he had nothing to do with killing her, why didn't he just come forward to report the incident when he heard she was missing,?" asked Luiters. She further said that she wanted answers and was prepared to involve police from outside Knysna to deal with her daughter's murder if nothing became of the case. "We live in fear because we do not know who these murderers are. They can strike at any time and kill more people," added Luiters.
On Monday, August 18 (2014), Knysna police media liaison, Sergeant Chris Spies said. that investigation into this matter has not been completed and that the SAPS still urgently need more information in order to make an arrest. Anyone who has information is urgently requested to contact the investigation officer, Warrant-Officer Hermann Freiboth of the Knysna Detective Branch at 044 302 6652 or 044 302 6659. All information will be dealt with confidentially.
Also refer to previous articles on this matter in the Knysna-Plett Herald: Search Party for Missing Mother (August 2, 2012), 'Who Killed My Mother?' (August 9, 2012), Mother's Murder Still a Mystery (August 16, 2012) and Residents Question Police's Work (August 30, 2012).
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