Nearly three years after Francis ‘Twiggy’ van der Merwe was found dead in her home, her family is still awaiting progress from investigators.

Her three daughters and three grandchildren continue to live with grief, unanswered questions and uncertainty over the investigation into her death. Twiggy was allegedly murdered on December 16, 2023, and her body was discovered in her Rabie Ridge home.

The family reported the matter to police, but stated they have received little information about what happened, who was responsible, or whether anyone has been held accountable. As time passes, her loved ones said their search for answers has become increasingly difficult.

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Her sister, Pastor Kate Nkosi, said losing Twiggy had left a lasting emotional burden on the family. “Losing Twiggy has been extremely painful for our family,” said Nkosi. “It has been almost three years, but the pain has not gone away. We have had to continue with our lives while carrying the loss of someone who was deeply loved by our family.”

Nkosi added that the lack of progress made healing hard. “It is especially difficult because we have not received the answers or justice we have been waiting for.”

Nkosi described Twiggy as more than a victim of a violent crime, calling her a sister whose presence, voice and personality continued to be missed.

“We miss everything about having her with us: her presence, her voice, her personality and the everyday moments that we used to take for granted. Nothing can replace having our sister here with us.”

She said the uncertainty made finding closure difficult for the family.

“It is hard for a family to find closure when we do not know exactly what happened, who was responsible and why Twiggy was killed. The uncertainty remains with us every day. We want answers, not only for ourselves but also for Twiggy.”

For Nkosi, the call for justice is not about making accusations without evidence, but about ensuring that the case receives proper attention. “We have not been given sufficient information to publicly identify or discuss any suspects or persons of interest. We do not want to speculate or accuse anyone without evidence. What we want is for the investigation to be properly pursued and for SAPS to provide the family with a clear update.”

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Community leader’s call for justice

Community leader George Henry, who continues to raise concerns about the case, said Twiggy’s death had deeply affected the community.

“What particularly disturbed me was the brutality of what happened and the fact that, years later, the family is still waiting for answers and justice,” said Henry.

Henry said the family deserved clear communication from the investigating team about the progress of the case and the avenues being pursued. “A case should not disappear simply because time has passed. We must continue saying: Twiggy has not been forgotten, her family has not been forgotten, and the call for answers must continue.”

Police response and docket status

Rabie Ridge police confirmed the case, which was assigned to Detective Sergeant Unice Mushwana.

Ekurhuleni District Police spokesperson Captain Nelda Sekgobela said no suspect has been identified and no arrests have been made.

“At this stage, the docket was sent to the senior public prosecutor last year for a decision, and the family was updated physically and telephonically,” said Sekgobela.

“Thorough investigations were made without success, and informers have been tasked without any information. Enquiries were made around the vicinity without success.”

Sekgobela added that a suspect raised during the investigation was investigated, but police found no evidence linking the person to the case.

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