UPDATE – 21 March 6pm: Bethal police are looking for suspect in double murder case
BETHAL – The police are looking for Mr Francois Pretorius in connection with the murders of Dr Hannes Beukes and his wife, Ibel, on Wednesday, 18 March.
Pretorius was last seen driving a silver Volkswagen Polo, Reg No JMB 980 MP.
According to the police he is dangerous and possibly armed.
Anyone with information in his whereabouts, must contact W/O Veldman at 079 396 3652 or the Bethal CPF at 072 711 3410.
UPDATE – 19 March 1pm: Cops confirm identity of murdered Bethal couple
BETHAL – The police have officially confirmed that the elderly couple who was found in the trunk of their vehicle in Bethal last night, 18 March, is Dr Hannes (70) and Ms Ibel (67) Beukes.
Dr Beukes was the Emeritus (retired) reverend of the Hervormde Kerk (Reformed Church) in Bethal, but still led services in Morgenzon.
Their identities were withheld until their three children who live abroad had been notified.
The police also officially confirmed that the couple were indeed murdered.
According to Brig Leonard Hlathi, provincial police spokesman, the couple sustained severe injuries and were certified dead on the scene by Bethal EMS. Their bodies were locked in the trunk of their vehicle.
He said the Beukes couple left their home earlier in the day yesterday to drop off their helper at eMzinoni but never returned.
A motorcyclist passing through the veld on the corner of Kieser and Du Plooy Street close to the Bethal Dam, spotted the Beukes’ vehicle hidden in the tall grass and alerted the Bethal CPF.
See the video:
The police launched an immediate manhunt to find those who murdered the couple.
The Provincial Commissioner of police in Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma condemned the murders.
“It is disheartening dealing with such cases where certain individuals brutally attack and kill vulnerable and defenceless citizens. We have assigned a team of investigators to solve this matter and I am certain that those responsible will soon be arrested so that they can face the full might of the law. I would also like to send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”
According to a source close to the investigation, the post mortems will be done this afternoon.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) must contact W/O Nico Veldman at 079 396 3652 or the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.
UPDATE 7pm – Beloved couple allegedly murdered in Bethal
Const Thomas Mogadime, spokesman for the Bethal Police, said they are waiting for the crime scene experts and the forensic investigators to arrive before they can open the car.
He said the couple was allegedly last seen at about 12.30pm driving their domestic worker to eMzinoni.
The Bethal EMS is already on the scene.
6.30pm – *Beloved couple found murdered in Bethal
BETHAL – Two bodies were discovered locked in the trunk of a vehicle belonging to an elderly well-known couple from Bethal late this afternoon, 18 March.
Police believe the bodies are those of the couple, but this will only be confirmed once the car is accessed.
A man riding his motorcycle through the veld at the corner of Kieser and Du Plooy Street spotted the vehicle hidden in tall grass. He alerted the Bethal CPF.
*This story was translated for our English readers.
6.30pm – Geliefde egpaar van Bethal moontlik vermoor
BETHAL – Twee liggame is laat vanmiddag, 18 Maart, in die kattebak van ‘n motor wat vermoedelik aan ‘n welbekende en geliedfe egpaar van Bethal behoort gevind.
Die vermoede is groot dat die liggame die egpaar is, maar die polisie probeer tans nog om die bak oop te kry voordat hulle die inligting kan bekend maak.
‘n Motorfietsryer het omstreeks 5nm op sy motorfiets deur die veld op die hoek van Du Plooy en Kieserstraat gery toe hy die voertuig in die bosse opgemerk het.
Hy het dit aan die GPF vertel.
Met nadere ondersoek blyk die motor aan die egpaar te behoort.
Ridge Times sal lesers op hoogte hou.
Dit is ‘n ontwikkelende storie.
