Urla showed no signs of trauma, simply because the toddler does not yet understand that death meant that her mother would never return home. To her grandchild's question, Luiters burst in tears. She could only answer, "I do not know who killed your mother, my child."
Luiters said that she had a feeling prior to the discovery of Emmerentia'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," said a heartbroken Luiters.
Emmerentia will be laid to rest on Saturday, August 18.
The 31-year-old Emmerentia went missing on Friday, July 27 and had been missing for ten days before her body was discovered in the early hours of Monday, August 6 behind a Telkom substation in the vicinity of Chapel Street, Hornlee. It has been alleged that the person that Emmerentia had been with last, 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 on Sunday, August 5.
According to Captain Malcolm Pojie, SAPS media liaison officer, the discovery was made when Knysna detectives followed up information about Emmerentia's last known whereabouts, received during quetioning 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. There was no visible injuries to the body except for her nose that was covered with blood," explained Pojie.
However, according to members who were part of a search party that was mobilised on Thursday, August 2, Emmerentia's body was laying 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 Emmerentia's face, there were also marks on her neck and face. The family friend noticed this when the family was asked to identify the body at the Knysna Pathology Service on Monday, August 6.
Search
Several Hornlee residents, relatives and family friends started their own search when Emmerentia's husband reported her missing to the Knysna Police on Monday, July 30. Emmerentia's family decided to create their own search party after the police had told them to wait until midnight to see whether Emmerentia would return home.
Luiters said that she was not too worried when Emmerentia did not come home on Saturday after having gone out the previous night. "She is not the kind of woman who would just leave her children stranded for an entire weekend. However, I began to worry on the Sunday. I told her husband that he should report her as missing should she not return home on Monday.
"And so we went to the police station to report her missing. We decided to search for my daughter on our own, with the help of friends, because she had already been missing for more than 48 hours. We just could not wait a minute longer," said a distressed Luiters. They and several members of the community searched various areas in Hornlee from Monday to Wednesday "without any help from the police or other services", said Luiters.
However, we informed Knysna's executive mayor, Georlene Wolmarans about Emmerentia's case and she then went out of her way to come to our aid," said a very grateful Luiters.
She explained that Wolmarans immediately organised for officials of the Knysna Fire Brigade and Knysna Law Enforcement as well as officials of ER24 and Metro Services to assist them. The mayor and acting municipal manager, Charl Botha, actively participated in the search.
Wolmarans explained that the municipality initiated a search operation for Witbooi on Thursday, August 2. "Emmerentia had been missing since Friday, July 27 and as very little progress had been made to locate her, we decided to see if we could help," she said.
Charl Botha confirmed that various roleplayers assisted in the search, which had the Fire Department as operation base. "Our Municipal Law Enforcement officers, members of the Fire Brigade, SANParks, ER24 and Metro Ambulance Service worked closely with members of the community to search for Witbooi. We also received support from SAPS as one of their local officers and a member of George's Dog Unit assisted during the search," explained Botha.
Disappointing service
A number of residents, including Wolmarans and Botha, expressed their disappointment in the services rendered by the police throughout the search operation until the gruesome discovery of Emmerentia's body. Wolmarans said that she had to organise a meeting following the Knysna Police's apparent lack of interest in finding Emmerentia when the search operation was already well underway on Thursday, August 2. She added that a large number of police officials assisted the search party on Friday, August 3. This was, however the only day that the police assisted in the search. The mayor actively participated in the search on Thursday and joined the party again late on Sunday. "The SAPS officer notified me that new information had come to light and we discovered Emmerentia's body some time before 01:00."
Wolmarans further said that she had to contact the necessary services to ensure that the woman's body was removed in a responsible and dignified way and the scene remained untampered with. Wolmarans was allegedly told by Colonel Nolan Michaels (Knysna station commander) that Emmerentia's half naked body had to stay there until daybreak because the police did not have the necessary resources to remove the body at the time of the gruesome discovery. It was then that Wolmarans took matters into her own hands, contacting Knysna Pathology to assist with removing the body.
She was told that they would not be able to remove the body or be on the scene without the police's consent.
"I persuaded the appropriate departments to perform the necessary services as soon as possible so that we could notify her parents and have the body removed and looked after," said Wolmarans. She continued, "While I am content in that we could bring closure to Emmerentia's family, I am saddened by the fact that the search for this missing young woman took as long as it did."
Emmerentia's mother and family were angered by the fact that two inexperienced student police officials had visited their home prior to the search operation. "How could they send inexperienced constables to our home. It just showed that the police did not take this to be a high priority case," said Luiters. Captain Malcolm Pojie (SAPS media liaison), said, "The Knysna police acted within their mandate regarding the search for the missing person. The investigation of crime remains our priority. We are not going to stand trial in the media about this."
He said that it was strange that the municipality expressed their disappointment in police conduct to the media, since "we have a sound relationship with them and appreciate their assistance during the search. We have always welcomed suggestions and closely liaised with the municipality regarding safety and security of all inhabitants of Knysna and surroundings."
He advises that anybody who is of the opinion that the police did not fulfil their mandate in terms of the search and the murder investigation to put it in writing, and address it to the station commander in order for him to institute an internal investigation.
No arrests
According to Pojie no one has been arrested in connection with Emmerentia Witbooi's death. However, residents of Hornlee, including relatives, are up in arms about this. "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 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, was found at his home on Sunday, August 5 and was later taken to the Knysna Fire Department, where he then 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 while the two men were with Emmerentia. It was alleged that the man was released on Monday, August 6.
"How could they release this man when he admitted to having 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 and reported 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 becomes 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.
Pojie said that it was only natural that people speculate what had transpired. He pertinantly pointed out the facts: "Nobody has been arrested in connection to this case. People were, however questioned about the incident."
He did not want to reveal more lest the sensitive investigation be hampered.
He added that a post-mortem autopsy was being conducted by the state pathologist in George. The result of this may offer some conclusive evidence needed to solve this case.
A case of murder has been opened and is being investigated. Anybody with information about what had happened to Emmerentia is urged to contact the investigating officer, Captain Max Mangalie at 044 302 6600 or telephone the Crime Stop number, 08600 10111.
Emmerentia's family would like to thank all the people and organisations who assisted with the search.
Pojie thanked community volunteers and Bambanani, the mayor and the municipal emergency services who participated in an extensive search for the victim. "Attempts to find her then, was not successful," said Pojie.
Wolmarans said, "I once again extend my deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones, and thank SANParks, ER24, Metro Ambulance services and our own municipal employees, and in particular the volunteers from the community of Hornlee for their selfless dedication and unflagging efforts."
.jpg)
Curious Members of the public at scene where Emmerentia Witbooi's body was found in the early hours of Monday, August 6. Her body was found behind a Telkom substation in Chapel Street, Hornlee.
ARTICLE: ROZANO ALIE, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
