UPDATE: Has Rozanne turned against Adriaan?

THE fact that well-known Vryheid attorney, Adriaan Venter, had faked his own death was met with such disbelief by the Vryheid community, that many considered the possibility, and even hoped, that it may be ‘fake news’.

Sadly, the story that broke on www.vryheidherald.co.za in the early hours of Saturday morning is entirely factual.

ALSO READ: THE FULL SCOOP: Vryheid attorney back from the grave, Adriaan Venter arrested for faking his death

AND: ‘n Hartseer boodskap van Adriaan Venter se gesin

Adriaan and his fiancé, Rozanne Vosloo, were arrested last week for faking Adriaan’s death and putting in a fraudulent life insurance claim with Liberty Group.

Since then, Rozanne’s attorney, who identified herself as Mrs Venter, has refused to address rumours that Rozanne has turned state witness against Adriaan, or that Rozanne may have been the one to lead police to where Adriaan had been hiding.

“Rozanne was let go with a warning. We are waiting for a date for the trial to begin, but courts are closing for the festive period so this will only be in the New Year. Rozanne is not speaking to anyone until the trial has been completed,” said Mrs Venter.

Adriaan’s mother, Remertha Venter, also declined to say anything regarding the charges against her son.

However, Adriaan’s uncle, Gerhard Engelbrecht, echoed the astonishment that has been expressed by countless others. “I am so shocked,” he said. “The family has been going through hell since we found out. We also want the truth to come out. We want answers.”

Adriaan and his loyal fiancé, Rozanne, were arrested while allegedly trying to escape the country after Adriaan had faked his own death. They were apprehended in Durban by detectives from Point police station and investigators from Liberty Group. On Friday, the couple met with the Senior Public Prosecutor (SPP) at the Durban court and police investigations are ongoing. For some reason, the case was never entered onto the court roll. Attempts made by the Vryheid Herald to contact the SPP about this proved fruitless, as we were told that she is currently on leave.

While neither the court nor the investigating officer would confirm this, it is believed that Adriaan was also released, despite posing a flight risk after having faked his own death and attempting to flee the country.

Adriaan’s death certificate indicated that he had died of natural causes on July 25. His death certificate further indicates that he had died in Kwamashu, while the death certificate itself, was issued in Kwadukuza (Stanger).

Dion Moonsamy, the manager at the Home Affairs in Kwadukuza, explained that it is unlikely that his staff is guilty of any crime, where the issuing of Adriaan’s death certificate is concerned. “There is a process to register a death. If you come to Home Affairs with all the necessary documents, we don’t have a choice but to register the death. These documents emanate from a doctor. We do not examine the body ourselves”, he said.

Mr Moonsamy further indicated that the case was being investigated by the Home Affairs head office in Pretoria.

On June 20, Adriaan had compiled his last will and testament in which he stipulated that he did not want a funeral, and that he was leaving his residential property to his father and the remainder of his estate was to go to Rozanne.

Investigators from the Attorney’s Fidelity Fund revealed that Kwamashu was red-flagged as the place to go, when people attempted to fake their own deaths.

Liberty Group began its own investigation into the possibility that Adriaan may have faked his death, which eventually led to Adriaan’s arrest.