Spiritual leader denies involvement in murder after allegations on social media

Breaking News Update

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Rocco Viljoen (58), a spiritual leader and a friend of the murdered former detective Nicky van Heerden (54), denies any involvement in her death, amid some recent insinuations to that effect on social media posts.

Van Heerden’s body was discovered on a large area of dunes at Rivertides near Keurbooms River on Sunday evening, 18 January, after the police had responded to a report of a woman screaming.

An anti-crime activist, Morné Swart, who has a Facebook following of about 47 000, shared a photograph of Viljoen with the following message (translated from Afrikaans): “This man’s name is Rocco Viljoen, a cult leader in the Knysna area, and there is a direct connection between him and the murdered detective from Knysna. Before I send all my information to the authorities, I am asking for more details about this man, please. Feel free to inbox me. I am also in possession of a voice note that the murdered woman posted on a WhatsApp group the night before her murder. This tragedy is going to shock the country.”

Van Heerden had sent a voice note to a WhatsApp group administered by Viljoen at about 18:45 on Saturday evening, the day before her death. In it, she mentions Viljoen by name and warns his followers against him.