UPDATE: Family murder: Domestic worker laid to rest

Elizabeth Mahlangu, the 56-year-old domestic worker who was gunned down at her workplace in Fairleads, Benoni, on January 22 was laid to rest at Crystal Park Cemetery on January 27.

Mahlangu’s employer, Pomona businessman Anton Bouwer has since been arrested.

He allegedly went on a shooting spree, first killing his parents Robert (75) and Bettie (72) at their Bredell home then proceeding to his own home in Fairleads where he shot dead Mahlangu and his stepdaughter Natasha (22).

His wife, Adélle (43) was also shot but airlifted to hospital. Bouwer turned the gun on himself at the Fairleads home but survived and was also hospitalised.

Dedicated
A sombre mood was felt throughout Mahlangu’s hometown of Daveyton on Saturday where neighbours, friends and family gathered at her house to say their final goodbyes.

Mahlangu’s son Sifiso (38) described his mother as a pillar of strength.

“It pains us that the person she respected and worked for for 35 years took her life for no valid reason. Seeing her lifeless body in the mortuary broke my heart. My mother had a gunshot wound to her head and had bled profusely.

“My mother was everything to me and my younger sister. She was practically the breadwinner because she would assist me financially to look after my three children because I don’t have a stable income,” Sifiso said.

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He added that his mother was a dedicated employee who ensured she was at work from Monday to Friday.

The last time I spoke to her was on the evening of January 21 when she asked for taxi fare. The following day I left early for work. My mom went to my room and played with my children before she left for work. This was something she did every morning before leaving for work.”

Robbery
The family was shocked to receive the sad news about Mahlangu’s death from another domestic worker, who works in Fairleads.

“We couldn’t believe it. My aunt and I went to the property on January 23 to get more information about what transpired. We found Bouwer’s son, Barry. He told us that there had been a robbery and that they had appointed a private investigator to investigate the matter.”

The distraught Sifiso said they later found out from a reliable source that it was his mother’s employer that had allegedly shot her and not robbers as they had been told.
He said the police haven’t been of much help, as the family has been kept in the dark.

According to Sifiso, the Bouwer family contributed R15 000 towards the burial and told the family they are awaiting an insurance payout.

Employment service
The 38-year-old Sifiso said he knew Bouwer personally as he had previously worked for him at the same property where his mother was employed.

“When I first met him he was a kind person. His personality started to change after his divorce from his first wife.

“He became a bully. I remember one day when I came to work with an injury to my ankle, he slapped me in the face for working too slowly.

“After that incident, I decided to report the matter to the police but when I thought about the repercussions this would have on my mother’s job, I decided to keep quiet and leave.”

Leading up to his mother’s death, Sifiso claims his mother’s relationship with Bouwer wasn’t the best.

“She had asked him for a pay-out for working for 35 years but apparently Bouwer kept ducking and diving.

“In November, Bouwer paid for a ceiling and tiles to be installed at my mom’s home and he bought her furniture that cost R4 000.

“My mother was not pleased with his gesture. She told us she asked Bouwer if her 35 years of service was equivalent to the cost of these three items. We are confused about why he shot her. Was it due to their misunderstanding relating to her service? We want justice to take its course.”

Court
Bouwer (56) appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on January 25 on four charges of murder, attempted murder and a charge of defeating the ends of justice.

The matter was postponed to February 2 when Bouwer will reappear for a formal bail application.

Also Read: UPDATE: Family murder: Father in court