KNYSNA NEWS - Bettie Jacobs, a mother from Brackenhill, Knysna, has been engulfed by the sorrow of a murdered child for the second time in 16 years.

Her son, Nigel, was stabbed to death in a tavern fight in Brackenhill 16 years ago. He was 25.

Now her daughter, Claudine Saaiman (34), has been brutally murdered. She died at the hands of attackers in Kwanokuthula in Plettenberg Bay on 3 May.

Three suspects have been arrested and appeared in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate's Court on Friday 16 May for a bail application, which they subsequently abandoned.

 Claudine was buried on 10 May at the Emmanuel Pinkster Kerk in Brackenhill, a day after what would have been her 35th birthday. 

Bettie (65), who now as a grandmother has to look after Claudine's two children aged 14 and five, waited until after the funeral and a period of mourning before speaking about the tragic murders of her two children.

Now she has, for the first time, opened up to talk about her pain.

 Funeral

For 16 years, Bettie has had to live with the grief of losing her son while his murderer has not yet been brought to book. 

Claudine's recent murder on top of that has left her broken. "It is a big heartsore. People won't understand what I'm going through," she said.

"To lose one child in such a violent manner is something a mother cannot fathom." 

Old wounds
The fact that Claudine was also murdered opened old wounds of sorrow as she remembered the death of Nigel.

"There were three suspects arrested within three days in Claudine's murder.

“My anguished call is now why, after 16 years, the Knysna police have not yet arrested the two alleged culprits in Nigel's murder?

 "I think of Nigel's murder and know that his murderers are still in our community. 

"I'm sure I see them almost every day! I cannot fathom the hurt this brings me," said Bettie.

Nigel was rushed to hospital in a friend's car after being stabbed, but died before getting there.

"He died of one wound, so the person who did it and who is still in the community must know who he is… and what he is..." 

Could not eat
After Claudine's murder she could not eat and family members tried to build up her strength with rescue remedies.

"It isn't a nice feeling. People won't understand what I'm going through," said Bettie.

She described Claudine, who had been living in Kwanokuthula for 13 years, as a vibrant personality and people's person who was also outspoken.

Claudine’s five-year-old keeps asking after his mother. "I don't have any more words left in me." 

Closure

 Now Bettie is seeking some answers from the Knysna police. To date no one has been arrested for Nigel's murder and there are allegations of inaction.

The original investigating officer, detective Jantjies, passed away while investigating Nigel's murder. The second detective assigned to the case also passed away. 

The third detective investigating the case visited the family and Bettie once, three years ago, and has not contacted them since. 

"The Knysna police have failed us," said Bettie. "All I'm looking for is closure."

 Knysna police have been asked for comment. Once received it will be published.   

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