We have grown used to living in an unsafe world, we take precautions to ensure the safety of our homes and family, but sometimes the danger lurks inside our homes.
Matricide and patricide are terms used to describe when children kill their parents. There have been quite a few cases of this in South Africa. But what makes this case rare is that siblings committed the murder, whereas in other cases it is normally just one child that murders and then there is also the cult factor.
Johan and Riekie Lotter were found brutally murdered in their Durban home on July 28, 2008. Hardus and Nicolette Lotter, two of the three Lotter siblings claimed it was a home invasion. Fortunately, the truth of what happened soon came to light. Johan and Riekie were murdered by their children and their reason, the ‘third son of God’ told them to.
Mathew Naidoo, 22 years old at the time, was discovered to be the mastermind behind these murders. Nicolette started dating Naidoo in 2006 and soon he was living in the Lotter’s home, at first unbeknown to Johan and Riekie.
Naidoo coming from a poor background saw his way to a wealthy lifestyle and he started convincing the siblings that their parents were evil and that he had received a direct instruction from God that they had to be killed. Nicolette and Hardus brainwashed by Naidoo did as they were told and murdered their parents, the people who probably loved them the most.
All three accused were found guilty of the murders. Nicolette and Hardus were sentenced to 10 and 12 years respectively while Naidoo was handed down two life sentences even though he was not physically there. Both siblings have been released from prison whilst Naidoo remains behind bars.
I find it difficult to fathom that you can be brainwashed to the point of murder, but this has happened before and it is sure to happen again.
A cult normally has a self-appointed leader who uses the dark side of religion to control members. Members are isolated and punished and are required to make sacrifices, in this case, to sacrifice the life of their parents.
People with a sense of longing, searching to belong somewhere are more susceptible to the manipulation of a cult.
It is a frightening thought that someone can have so much control over another person.
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