Missing Mooi River couple ‘murdered and dismembered’

Grisly details of the murder of Mooi River pensioners Antony (73) and Gillian (78) Dinnis emerged at the bail hearing of one of the men allegedly involved in the couple’s kidnapping in August.

According to evidence led at the bail hearing of Lungelo Mkhize (22) – who is facing two counts of kidnapping and one of extortion in the Mooi River Magistrate’s Court – the couple was murdered shortly after being kidnapped and their bodies were dismembered to be sold for muthi in Johannesburg.

In an affidavit submitted on Tuesday as part of the state’s case opposing bail, Detective Warrant Officer Johannes de Lange stated that a R2m ransom demand was sent to the missing couple’s son a few days after their disappearance.

The couple lived at Scottburg Farm in Middelrus for the past eight years.

De Lange said a search for the couple was conducted on August 30, after the co-ordinator of the daily check-in via radio from surrounding farms did not receive a reply from Antony and Gillian.

A missing person’s case was opened the same day at the Mooi River Police Station.

Ransom demand received

De Lange said the couple’s son, Sam Dinnis, received a WhatsApp message from Gillian’s phone on September 2, written in Zulu. It read: “To make things easy just pay 2 [two million] into this bank account number if you want to see your parents again.”

The bank account that the money was to be sent to belonged to Gillian.

As a result of the message and because Gillian and Antony had not returned home, a kidnapping case was endorsed on the case docket, said De Lange.

“Nobody had heard from them, nor could they be found around the Middelrus and Mooi River areas. Searches were done by SAPS search and rescue, as well as other influential stakeholders,” he added.

He revealed that messages in Zulu were also sent to a phone belonging to the couple’s daughter Kate, asking for the payment to be sent to Gillian’s account number.

These messages were also sent from Gillian’s cellphone.

Mkhize was arrested on September 16, following an investigation that linked him to a cellphone that used a SIM card that was inserted into the couple’s cellphone during their disappearance.

De Lange said Mkhize was found in possession of the handset and firearm, allegedly used in the kidnapping, when he was arrested.

“The suspect was brought to the crime intelligence office in Pietermaritzburg where he mentioned to the members that he was involved in the kidnapping of two white people.

“He also informed police that he was accompanied by two other [men] but was reluctant to reveal their identity. On the same day, a second suspect was arrested.”

The second suspect reportedly worked for the couple for about three years after he was referred to them by Mkhize, who had found a job as a security guard in Mooi River.

Mkhize previously worked for the couple for about two years.

De Lange said that during an interview with the police, the second suspect allegedly admitted to being involved in the kidnapping of the couple and said he had been assisted by two other men.

“He also indicated that they went to the Dinnis’ residence and took a brush cutter, chainsaw and a TV. He also revealed that the other two men were armed with firearms. Thereafter, they left with the couple and went to another residence, where they murdered the couple,” he added.

De Lange told the court that the second suspect revealed to police exactly how the couple was murdered, alleging that they cut off body parts, which they planned to sell for R50 000 in Johannesburg.

Stating why they opposed Mkhize’s bail, the investigating officer said police have still not found the couple’s bodies or their cellphones.

He said two other suspects, believed to have been involved in the case, still need to be traced; and that Mkhize might evade justice if he is released on bail, having been made aware of the strength of the state’s case.

In an affidavit, Mkhize told the court that he would not interfere with the investigation and didn’t know the state’s witnesses. He added that he had no previous convictions or pending cases.

The magistrate denied him bail and the case was postponed to April 19 for a regional court date.