The murder trial of Frederick “Freddie” Stapelberg continued in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on August 12, with the State calling Carol Terblanche, the mother of murdered Alberton woman Nadine Terblanche and maternal grandmother of four-year-old Ruandré Vorster.

Terblanche, who has known Stapelberg since 2014, told the court about the family’s visit to Nadine’s Randhart home during the weekend before the November 2023 incident. She said the atmosphere was different from normal and slightly subdued.

She said Nadine had asked whether they could first take the grandmother home before returning, as Freddie could later take Carol and her husband home.

The grandmother was taken home on the Sunday, and the following day tried to contact Nadine and Stapelberg because her walker had been left behind.

Terblanche said she arrived home from work at about 16:45 on the Monday. She tried calling Nadine but received no answer. Shortly afterwards, Stapelberg called her while crying.

She could not understand what he was saying before a woman came onto the phone and told her there had been an accident at the house.

Terblanche immediately drove to the property, about 2km to 2.5km from her home. She said she found several CPS Security vehicles outside. Stapelberg approached her and told her that Nadine and Ruandré were dead.

Ruandré and Nadine found inside
Terblanche said security officers initially stopped her from entering the house. She told them she was a nurse and wanted to see whether she could help.

Inside, she went to Ruandré’s bedroom. She described two single beds pushed together against a wall and said Ruandré was lying across them.

She tried to revive him, first performing chest compressions and then attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She stopped when she noticed liquid in his mouth.

She also described blue marks on his upper chest and said his wet trousers initially made her think he may have drowned.

Terblanche then went to Nadine’s bedroom. She said she saw a blood-stained handprint on the wall and Nadine lying on the bed with a large amount of blood around her.

She described blood on pillows, a blue face, a swollen blue tongue and bruising on the right side of her face and around her neck.

She said she did not see a specific wound and knew Nadine was dead, so she did not attempt CPR.
Terblanche later received oxygen after becoming distressed.

She said Stapelberg was in the yard, crying, although she could not remember whether he had been with her inside Ruandré’s room.

Stapelberg’s account of the attack
Terblanche told the court that Stapelberg later explained what had happened. According to her, he said he had entered the house and seen Pardon Danhire with an axe. Stapelberg allegedly said Danhire attacked him and that the two struggled over the weapon.

She said Stapelberg told her he had thrown his wallet towards Danhire and said, “If it’s money you want then take the wallet.”

He allegedly said he managed to press the panic button and that the struggle continued outside, where a CPS officer arrived and pointed a firearm at them.

According to Terblanche, Stapelberg told the officer that Danhire had killed his family before Danhire dropped the axe and ran away.

She said she noticed scratches and a small cut on Stapelberg’s neck and chest. He allegedly told her that Danhire had struck him with the axe but that his chain had protected him.

Nadine’s relationship and financial difficulties
Terblanche also gave evidence about Nadine’s relationship with Stapelberg and her financial circumstances.

She said Nadine had told her around March 2023 that she was unhappy at the property and was experiencing problems with Stapelberg.

Nadine had considered selling the house and moving to a smaller townhouse where each child could have a bedroom. She briefly put the property on the market through Terblanche’s estate agent but later decided not to sell.

Terblanche said Nadine had no financial problems initially because she had inherited about R5 million after the death of her daughter’s father.

The house had been bought for about R1.6 million in cash. However, Nadine later told her that the inherited money was running out.

Terblanche said Nadine struggled with sleeping tablets and was admitted to Roseacres, a substance-use treatment facility. She was expected to remain there for three weeks but was discharged after about one week. Terblanche described her daughter’s recovery as a “rollercoaster”.

Nadine also borrowed money from her mother, including R10 000 shortly before her death. Terblanche said Stapelberg later paid her R20 000 after the funeral.

The court also heard evidence about the arrangements and payment for the funerals of Nadine and Ruandré.

Terblanche said Nadine had a funeral policy with a bank. When the family began making arrangements, she asked whether there were funds available to cover the burials.

However, the policy’s beneficiary was Freddie Stapelberg. Terblanche said she informed Stapelberg that he was the beneficiary and the funds were subsequently transferred to him. She said Stapelberg then paid the funeral costs.

She estimated that the two funerals cost between R60,000 and R65,000, although she was not certain of the exact amount.

Defence challenges evidence
During cross-examination on August 13, the defence questioned Terblanche about whether there had been any history of violence between Nadine and Stapelberg or any protection order. She said she knew of none.

She agreed that Stapelberg had lived with Nadine and the children and had acted as a father figure, taking the children to school and providing for them.

She also agreed that he was involved in funeral arrangements and could have access to personal documents. However, she maintained that, as Nadine’s mother, she had the right to bury her daughter and grandson.

The defence challenged Terblanche’s recollection of the scene, including whether Stapelberg was present when she entered Ruandré’s room and whether she completed the CPR described by a security officer.

She said she could neither confirm nor deny that Stapelberg was in the room. Questions were further raised about Nadine’s use of sleeping tablets before her relationship with Stapelberg.

Terblanche confirmed she knew Nadine had used them previously and knew about an accident involving her Audi, but could not confirm whether Nadine had been intoxicated by the medication.

The defence also questioned Terblanche about financial difficulties in the household and the money allegedly owed to Danhire, who worked in the garden. She said she knew he was owed money but did not know the amount or period involved.

Statements questioned
The defence challenged Terblanche over statements she made to police. She initially recalled making one statement but, after a second statement was produced, acknowledged that she had forgotten about it.

The defence also referred to a statement in which she said she feared for her life if Stapelberg was granted bail. Terblanche confirmed that she feared for her own life and that of her family.

The defence argued that differences in her evidence and statements affected her reliability as a witness.

The defence then put Stapelberg’s version to her: that he had arrived home and that Danhire had attacked him, leading to the struggle over the axe. Terblanche’s evidence and cross-examination were completed on Thursday, August 13.