Family desperate for justice two years after brutal killing
Unanswered questions, alleged missing evidence and limited communication from investigators continue to haunt the family of Christo van der Merwe, two years after his charred body was found in his Boksburg home.
Just over two years after the murder of Christo van der Merwe, his family is still left with more questions than answers as they struggle to come to terms with the tragedy.
Van der Merwe’s burnt body was discovered at his home on Elizabeth Road at around 06:00 on January 6, 2024, after the house had been set alight.
According to his sister, Marietjie Pienaar, it is unimaginable that someone could commit such a brutal act against her brother, who worked for the City of Ekurhuleni’s Parks Department and lived a quiet, private life.
“He was a loner who went to work and then straight home. I don’t understand who could hate him enough to do something so horrific. It haunts us that he was burnt beyond recognition,” Pienaar said.
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She explained that CCTV footage shows Van der Merwe arriving home from work in the afternoon. Later, his bakkie was seen entering and leaving the yard twice. After the second departure, the vehicle did not return. After midnight, two unknown individuals were captured entering the property.
“Nothing was taken except his bakkie, cellphone, and a firearm. They didn’t ransack the garage or take anything else. It’s all very strange,” she added.
Pienaar said the bakkie was eventually found at a police pound in Johannesburg after it was spotted by an insurance assessor a few months after the murder.
“I understand the vehicle was initially recovered on a street in Ivory Park. Apparently, a fingerprint was found on the bakkie, and the last signal from his cellphone was also traced to Ivory Park,” she said.
The family, she emphasised, is desperate for justice and even hired two private investigators to assist with the case.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t really bear any fruit. The second private investigator later informed us that the docket had been stolen,” Pienaar added.
Despite reports of new leads, Pienaar said the family has all but lost hope.
“It feels like a dead end, and it’s heartbreaking. We no longer receive any communication from the investigating officer. We’ve tried calling and sending messages, but there’s been no response,” she said.
Boksburg North SAPS station commander, Colonel Mack Mngomezulu, confirmed that police are still following up leads related to the bakkie.
Mngomezulu said he is not aware of any allegation that the docket had been stolen. Regarding concerns about communication, he said the family is welcome to visit the police station at any time for updates.
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Police have urged community members with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect or suspects to come forward.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop anonymously on 08600 10111 or submit tips via the MySAPS app.
