Missing Sodwana Bay skipper: Previous victim of accused speaks out

As the family of missing Sodwana Bay skipper John ‘Matambu’ Dercksen go back to the drawing board after charges against the accused were withdrawn on Tuesday, a previous victim still awaiting justice says she hopes the truth will one day prevail.

A Nelspruit woman, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity, has been waiting seven years for justice and closure after opening a sexual assault case against Frederik ‘Ferdie’ Visser.

“I actually thought he was dead because he seemed to just drop off the face of the earth,” says the woman.

“But when I saw Visser’s face on social media recently, I knew he was out there somewhere and the memories of my experience came flooding back. I thought I had blocked it all out.”

The woman says, having gone through all the required DNA and forensic testing at the time of her ordeal, she cannot understand why her case went cold.

“I would get the occasional SMS when the docket was moved, but when the original investigating officer passed away, the case stagnated. At one stage, the docket went missing.

“I am now going to get in touch with the investigating officer again and try to resurrect my case.

“My heart goes out to John’s family, I was shocked to see what was happening. I hope the truth comes out.”

Family distraught

Meanwhile, Cherie Eilertsen, Dercksen’s sister, says the family is distraught, and she has changed the original missing person case to a charge of murder.

“This weekend is 10 weeks since John went missing, but with everything that happened in court this week, it feels like it just happened yesterday. We’re right back at day one,” says Eilertsen.

“We are so incredibly grateful to the media and individuals who absolutely, undoubtedly assisted in finding Visser, and we handed him on a plate to the authorities.

“All they had to do was get him back to South Africa, and they couldn’t do it properly. Now we’re back to square one.”

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says it is now up to the police to resume investigations in the Dercksen matter.

“After investigation and consideration of the matter, it has been decided that the fraud case against Visser be withdrawn, as he was not brought before court in compliance with the Extradition Act, 67 of 1962. Further, investigation is also outstanding in respect of the fraud,” says Ramkisson-Kara.

“The investigating officer has informed us that the accused is currently remanded in custody due to a parole violation.”