According to Charles, family of Cindy van Niekerk, a woman who went missing near the end of March, carried out the attack in retribution over the disappearance and alleged murder of Cindy. 

A woman named Albie who stayed with Charles in the camp, as well as another male is said to have fled during the ordeal. Their whereabouts is currently unknown and they could not be reached for comment. 

Vaalweekblad visited the site the following morning and saw the burned out tents. 

The incident follows less than a week after Vaalweekblad posted an article and a documentary video about the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Cindy van Niekerk in March and a body that was found in the Vaal River on 4 April.  

Vaalweekblad interviewed both Charles and a woman named Albie at the small squatter camp Van Niekerk is said to visited before her disappearance near the end of March. 

On the video Sandra Seedat, a close friend of the missing Cindy, told us that Cindy said she was on her way to go stay at her uncle at the rivier when they last spoke. 

Although the results of DNA tests is not yet available, Cindy’s family believes that a woman whose body was found in the Vaal River near a bridge at Viljoensdrif in April is that of Cindy. 

Police said in a statement that the woman’s head was wrapped in a towel when she was found. The deceased’s head had been partially shaven, and it appears that she died as a result of stoning. 

A small amount of water found in her lungs suggests that she was alive when thrown into the river. 

The police suspect that the body had been in the river for about 20 days before it was discovered near a bridge over the Vaal River, along the R59 highway at Viljoensdrif.  

Pieter van Niekerk, brother of the deceased, confirmed to Vaalweekblad that he visited the squatter camp on the same day that it was burned down. When asked about the incident where tents where allegedly set alight he denied any involvement and asked us to direct queries to the investigating officer in the case. He then abruptly ended the phone call. 

During the short conversation Van Niekerk mentioned to Vaalweekblad that during the family’s visit to the squatter camp they found clothing belonging to Cindy buried close to where the homeless people where staying. 

It is understood that they intended to hand these items over to the investigating officer, detective warrant officer Marius de Beer of the Viljoensdrif police. 

De Beer was on leave until Monday 18 October 2021. 

Last week Van Niekerk, who was initially offering a reward of R50 000 for information which could lead to the arrest and conviction of Cindy’s killer, raised the amount to R85 000.