SIZWE Brian Noruwana (20) was arrested this week in connection with the murder of Leon Badenhorst (59), who was found dead in his Margate home last Friday.
Noruwana, of Gcilima, appeared in the Ramsgate Magistrate’s Court this week. The case was postponed to December 17.
A 43-year-old woman has also been implicated in a conspiracy to murder Badenhorst.
She is believed to have been an acquaintance of his, and had stayed with him and his father before she was asked to leave.
Badenhorst was discovered dead in his bed by his 85-year-old father, Frans.
Police spokesman, Captain Gerald Mfeka, said that when police arrived at the scene they found Badenhorst covered with a blanket and lying in a pool of blood.
“He had an open wound from his forehead down to his eye, and his throat had been cut with a sharp object,” he said.
Badenhorst’s aunt, Ruida Adams, said the incident was a huge shock to the family.
“Leon was a free-spirited, nice person who didn’t deserve to die like this. He was easy going, had a great sense of humour, and was an animal lover. He will be sorely missed by his family,” she said.
She explained that on that fateful evening the two men had made coffee and sandwiches before Badenhorst senior had gone to watch TV.
Later, the phone rang. When Frans answered, the caller asked to speak to Leon.
When he went to find Leon, he saw that his son’s coffee and sandwiches were untouched.
“He was lying in bed with the duvet over his head,” said Mrs Adams.
Frans pulled back the duvet and found his son with fatal injuries to his head and throat.
“There was no forced entry, and no weapon was found,” said Capt Mfeka.
“At this stage the motive for the murder is unclear,” he said.
Mrs Adams thanked the Margate police for their outstanding and professional work on the case.
