Three more witnesses testified in the murder trial of Frederick “Freddie” Stapelberg at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, August 13, following the evidence of Carol Terblanche.

The court heard medical evidence about injuries Stapelberg allegedly suffered, vehicle tracking data from the day of the murders and an eyewitness account of the confrontation outside the Randhart home.

Stapelberg faces two counts of premeditated murder and two counts of attempted murder following the deaths of Nadine Terblanche and her son, Ruandré Vorster, in November 2023. He has pleaded not guilty.

Doctor examines Stapelberg
The State’s fifth witness was Dr Riona Rananundh, an emergency medicine specialist who examined Stapelberg on November 28, 2023. Rananundh, who first specialised in emergency medicine in March 2025, currently works at a hospital in Pretoria. She also previously worked in emergency medicine at Alberton Netcare.

The State handed a J88 medical examination form to the court. Rananundh confirmed that she completed and signed the relevant section of the document.

According to the medical history recorded during the examination, Stapelberg reported that he had arrived home and discovered that his family had been killed. He said an attacker then tried to assault and strangle him.

The doctor recorded two injuries: a superficial abrasion to the front of the chest and another abrasion to the front of the left side of the neck. Rananundh explained that an abrasion is a surface-level injury caused by contact, such as a strike, scratch or fall, rather than a penetrating injury such as a stab wound or gunshot wound.

She marked the injuries on a photograph of Stapelberg shown to the court, identifying the neck and chest injury.

She confirmed that there were no other injuries and that Stapelberg had no other complaints of soreness. Apart from the two abrasions, she said he was in good health.

Defence questions medical findings
During cross-examination, the defence took Rananundh through the J88, including the examination time of 01:31 on November 28, 2023.

The defence put Stapelberg’s account to the doctor, saying he had arrived home from work at about 17:00, found his wife and stepson murdered and then encountered a man with an axe who attacked him.

The defence also referred to Stapelberg’s injuries and questioned the doctor about the abrasion on his neck. Rananundh confirmed that the injury was an abrasion and did not involve penetration.

The defence suggested that the injuries remained green in colour for more than a week. Rananundh explained that people heal differently and that bruises can appear in different colours depending on a person’s complexion and healing process. No further questions were put to the doctor.

Vehicle tracking data presented
The State then called its sixth witness, Caerl Rothmann, a fleet operations expert employed by Cartrack in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Rothmann was working for the company in November 2023 and was called to explain vehicle tracking data to the court.

He testified that the Ford Ranger bakkie involved in the evidence was registered to Nadine Terblanche, according to an affidavit.

The State handed Rothmann a detailed trip report. He confirmed that the information came from the vehicle’s tracking system and explained the different columns showing the vehicle’s movements.

The report was pulled on January 22, 2024. Rothmann took the court through the trip data for November 27, 2023. Trip 105 began at about 06:40 and continued until 06:55. Further trips showed the vehicle moving through areas including Verwoerdpark, New Redruth and Alrode.

The tracking data showed the vehicle starting at 08:02 and stopping at 08:09 in Verwoerdpark, Alberton. Another trip began at 08:13 and ended at 08:16 in New Redruth.

A further journey began at 08:19 and ended at 08:31 in Alrode. The vehicle was then recorded moving again from 16:36 until 16:49 in Alberton. Rothmann said the vehicle’s ignition was switched off at 16:49 on November 27 and remained off until the next recorded trip at 01:51 on November 28.

He told the court that the tracking data could not be changed once it had been recorded. The defence had no questions for Rothmann.

Neighbour witnesses confrontation
The State’s seventh witness was Brandon Fourie, who lives in Langenhoven Street in Randhart. Fourie told the court that he did not know Stapelberg before the incident.

He said he arrived home at about 17:13 on the day of the incident. As he approached the corner of Klein and Langenhoven streets, he noticed a CPS Security vehicle parked in an unusual position across from his driveway.

After pulling into his own driveway and closing the gate, Fourie said he noticed a commotion at the neighbouring property. He got out of his vehicle and watched what was happening.

Across the road, he saw a CPS security officer and a white man, whom he later learned was Stapelberg. He said Stapelberg had an axe in his hand. He said the CPS officer had his firearm pointed at a black man, whom he later learned was Pardon Danhire.

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Danhire had his hands raised. Fourie said Danhire moved towards the gate with his hands raised while the officer continued pointing the firearm at him.

When Danhire reached the gate, he lowered his hands and ran towards the corner of Klein Street. Fourie’s mother was with him at the gate and asked what was happening. He told her he did not know and could only see the commotion.

The CPS officer returned to his vehicle and followed Danhire. Fourie and the others then moved towards the street where Stapelberg was standing. They asked him what had happened. Fourie said Stapelberg responded that his wife had just been murdered. He described Stapelberg’s manner as shocked but calm.

Fourie’s grandfather then joined them, while his mother instructed him to call Fox Security for assistance. Fourie said he decided to follow the CPS officer to see whether Danhire had been caught.

A few houses away, he saw that Danhire had been detained and told the officer that people had been murdered inside the house. He then saw more CPS vehicles arriving and returned home.

Neighbour describes finding boy
When Fourie returned, he found his mother standing in the driveway crying. He asked her what was wrong. According to Fourie, she told him that she had gone inside the house and had seen the little boy lying on the bed.

During cross-examination, the defence asked Fourie whether he knew Danhire. He said he did not. The defence also questioned him about his mother’s whereabouts and put it to him that she had been inside the house with Stapelberg while trying to make a telephone call.

Fourie said he was unaware of this. The matter was stood down until Friday, August 14, when further witnesses testified.