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| Picture source: ofm.co.za - Photo credit: Maricelle Botha |
A Northern Cape farmer, Deon Steenkamp (44), his wife, Christelle (43), and daughter, Marthella (14), were murdered on their farm Naauwhoek near Griqua Town (Griekwastad) at about 18:00 on Friday. The farm is situated 10km out on the Niekerkshoop Gravel Road.
The 3 bodies were discovered in the living room by the couple's teenager-son, Don, who was not at the homestead at the time of the murders, but at a nearby barn on the property. (Various reports give Don’s age as either 15, 16 or 17-years.)
The following paragraph was sourced from farmitracker, who were one of the first online media sites to report the incident after receiving verification from a SA Police spokesman at Griekwastad:
According to a relative, Anneke Oberholzer, the family were sitting on the porch, chatting. The dad, mom and daughter wanted to view the Sewende Laan TV programme (which starts at 18:30)*** so the three went inside while Don walked to the barn. While there he heard shots and his little sister screaming hysterically. The boy realised it was a farm attack and hid until he heard things fall silent. He went into the homestead and found his parents murdered. His little sister died in his arms. He then drove off in the bakkie to find help. – Source (This was, I presume, a report Anneke Oberholzer heard directly from the sole survivor, Don Steenkamp)
The Sunday Rapport newspaper has the tragic incident on the their front-page today, with headlines stating, Seun op sy knieë: ‘Hul is almal dood’ (Boy on his knees: ‘They’re all dead’).
Now why would Rapport, all of a sudden, have this tragedy splashed on their front page? Is this liberal Afrikaans newspaper not normally inclined to publish stories of this nature somewhere inside their pages, whenever they feel like it? Is the front-page not usually reserved for stories about the ‘gods of sport’?
I’ll tell you why Rapport is doing this…
They’re doing this because there are several indicators pointing to the fact that the young Don Steenkamp may possibly be a suspect, or has not told the complete truth. The story thus has the potential of developing into a juicy drama with far-reaching consequences, and more than ever if it comes to light that this incident was not a typical farm murder but possibly a domestic tragedy of some sort.
The manner in which they’ve covered this story is very skilful strategy by Rapport, as nowhere do they explicitly say that this may not be a typical farm murder. However, the scanty info they’ve published will, no doubt, place suspicion in the minds of many readers. It is also strange that Rapport avoided using the headline, “Nog ‘n Plaasmoord!” (Another Farm Murder), or something to that effect, which tells me they know far more than what they’re prepared to publish at this point in time.
The ANC government wants to nail the lid on the coffin of farm murders once and for all, because many organisations, including Genocide Watch, have placed the blame squarely on savage racist blacks. 48 European parliamentary members from 19 member states representing 7 different political formations have also condemned these attacks and murders.
A group, who call themselves the “Geloftevolk Republikeine” (Covenant People Republicans), have already publicly announced that they intend committing vengeance attacks on black people if the farm murders, and the killing of white people in urban areas continue in South Africa. The government wants to nail this lot too!
What better way of nailing a lid on ‘thoughts of vengeance’ by exposing the fact that not all farm murders are committed by blacks, and that other factors can also play a role?
The predominate indicator is the fact that the son (Don) handed in two firearms at the police station when he went to report the matter. Reports mention that he found the two firearms at the farm-gate when he ran out of the homestead to get the bakkie, which he then drove to the police station. The two firearms were apparently a .357 Magnum revolver and a .22 rifle. (No criminal in his right mind will leave two firearms on the scene of a murder!)
These weapons will obviously carry vital forensic clues – i.e. if the clues were not contaminated too much by excessive handling.
The second indicator is the fact that police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Hendrick Swart, apparently stated that, “they were NOT looking for any suspects.” The statement was apparently made several hours after the incident, and after the sole survivor (Don) was questioned by the police for about two hours. The statement was also confirmed by OFM Radio.
Police officers were dispatched to the scene about 15 minutes after the incident was reported. A police helicopter joined the search for suspects about 1 hour later. Police officials from Kimberley also joined the search. Apparently no signs of any suspects were found (or the police are not saying anything). Any hope of arresting suspects will thus be aided by forensic evidence, which will obviously take time to analyse and interpret… BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO PRIORITIZE THESE CRIMES!
There are a number of other minor indicators in the media that point to the fact that this incident may possibly not be a typical farm murder like all the others. However, no weighty assumptions can be made from them as preliminary reports do tend to contain errors, and so do the reports made by traumatized witnesses. For example, some of the reports state that Don Steenkamp did not hear any gun shots, while others say he did. The time the bodies were discovered is also sceptical: All Afrikaners (even teenagers) know 7de Laan starts at 18:30, yet Don told the police he found the bodies of his parents in the living room at about 18:00.***
If forensic trace evidence and other investigations, which point to the involvement of outsiders, do not shed some light on the matter very soon, then I’m afraid Don Steenkamp is going to be the prime suspect in this case and will most definitely be questioned some more. I doubt though that the police carried out sufficient (if any) forensic tests on Don to corroborate his version, and to finally eliminate (or confirm) him as a possible suspect. Bear in mind that performing certain forensic tests, such as primer residue and trace metal detection tests, will be futile when the subject’s hands have been washed or were contaminated with blood - as was the case with Don Steenkamp.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Steenkamp family and their close relatives and friends. I sincerely hope this crime will be resolved soon!
***NOTE:
Regarding the starting time of the TV soapy “Sewende Laan” on SABC 2 on Friday, 6 April 2012, the same day this tragedy occurred:
According to various sources a repeat of the previous show (Thursday 5 April) was screened at 15:00. Thereafter the usual Friday broadcast was televised, starting at the normal time of 18:30. The Afrikaans version of the magazine, “TV-PLUS”, covering the period 4 – 17 April 2012, is one of the many TV-guides that confirms this fact.
Here are the links to other posts that were recently published on this blog, concerning this tragedy:
UPDATE (Part 1) < Do not read this post if you have no interest in politics and/or content of an esoteric nature.
UPDATE (Part 2) < Focuses more on the “Forensic Ballistic” aspects of this case, based on information that has to date (2012-4-28) already been made public.
UPDATE (Part 3) < A continuation of part 2.
The Griekwastad NASPERS-PSYOP continues - Published on Sunday, 5 August 2012.
A follow-up on recent events concerning the Griekwastad-murders - Published on Thursday, 23 August 2012.
The Griekwastad Murder Trial - Published on Friday, 15 March 2013.
Please visit the latest update if you wish to leave comments.
The 3 bodies were discovered in the living room by the couple's teenager-son, Don, who was not at the homestead at the time of the murders, but at a nearby barn on the property. (Various reports give Don’s age as either 15, 16 or 17-years.)
The following paragraph was sourced from farmitracker, who were one of the first online media sites to report the incident after receiving verification from a SA Police spokesman at Griekwastad:
According to a relative, Anneke Oberholzer, the family were sitting on the porch, chatting. The dad, mom and daughter wanted to view the Sewende Laan TV programme (which starts at 18:30)*** so the three went inside while Don walked to the barn. While there he heard shots and his little sister screaming hysterically. The boy realised it was a farm attack and hid until he heard things fall silent. He went into the homestead and found his parents murdered. His little sister died in his arms. He then drove off in the bakkie to find help. – Source (This was, I presume, a report Anneke Oberholzer heard directly from the sole survivor, Don Steenkamp)
The Sunday Rapport newspaper has the tragic incident on the their front-page today, with headlines stating, Seun op sy knieë: ‘Hul is almal dood’ (Boy on his knees: ‘They’re all dead’).
Now why would Rapport, all of a sudden, have this tragedy splashed on their front page? Is this liberal Afrikaans newspaper not normally inclined to publish stories of this nature somewhere inside their pages, whenever they feel like it? Is the front-page not usually reserved for stories about the ‘gods of sport’?
I’ll tell you why Rapport is doing this…
They’re doing this because there are several indicators pointing to the fact that the young Don Steenkamp may possibly be a suspect, or has not told the complete truth. The story thus has the potential of developing into a juicy drama with far-reaching consequences, and more than ever if it comes to light that this incident was not a typical farm murder but possibly a domestic tragedy of some sort.
The manner in which they’ve covered this story is very skilful strategy by Rapport, as nowhere do they explicitly say that this may not be a typical farm murder. However, the scanty info they’ve published will, no doubt, place suspicion in the minds of many readers. It is also strange that Rapport avoided using the headline, “Nog ‘n Plaasmoord!” (Another Farm Murder), or something to that effect, which tells me they know far more than what they’re prepared to publish at this point in time.
The ANC government wants to nail the lid on the coffin of farm murders once and for all, because many organisations, including Genocide Watch, have placed the blame squarely on savage racist blacks. 48 European parliamentary members from 19 member states representing 7 different political formations have also condemned these attacks and murders.
A group, who call themselves the “Geloftevolk Republikeine” (Covenant People Republicans), have already publicly announced that they intend committing vengeance attacks on black people if the farm murders, and the killing of white people in urban areas continue in South Africa. The government wants to nail this lot too!
What better way of nailing a lid on ‘thoughts of vengeance’ by exposing the fact that not all farm murders are committed by blacks, and that other factors can also play a role?
THE INDICATORS:
(as sourced from various media reports)The predominate indicator is the fact that the son (Don) handed in two firearms at the police station when he went to report the matter. Reports mention that he found the two firearms at the farm-gate when he ran out of the homestead to get the bakkie, which he then drove to the police station. The two firearms were apparently a .357 Magnum revolver and a .22 rifle. (No criminal in his right mind will leave two firearms on the scene of a murder!)
These weapons will obviously carry vital forensic clues – i.e. if the clues were not contaminated too much by excessive handling.
The second indicator is the fact that police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Hendrick Swart, apparently stated that, “they were NOT looking for any suspects.” The statement was apparently made several hours after the incident, and after the sole survivor (Don) was questioned by the police for about two hours. The statement was also confirmed by OFM Radio.
Police officers were dispatched to the scene about 15 minutes after the incident was reported. A police helicopter joined the search for suspects about 1 hour later. Police officials from Kimberley also joined the search. Apparently no signs of any suspects were found (or the police are not saying anything). Any hope of arresting suspects will thus be aided by forensic evidence, which will obviously take time to analyse and interpret… BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO PRIORITIZE THESE CRIMES!
There are a number of other minor indicators in the media that point to the fact that this incident may possibly not be a typical farm murder like all the others. However, no weighty assumptions can be made from them as preliminary reports do tend to contain errors, and so do the reports made by traumatized witnesses. For example, some of the reports state that Don Steenkamp did not hear any gun shots, while others say he did. The time the bodies were discovered is also sceptical: All Afrikaners (even teenagers) know 7de Laan starts at 18:30, yet Don told the police he found the bodies of his parents in the living room at about 18:00.***
If forensic trace evidence and other investigations, which point to the involvement of outsiders, do not shed some light on the matter very soon, then I’m afraid Don Steenkamp is going to be the prime suspect in this case and will most definitely be questioned some more. I doubt though that the police carried out sufficient (if any) forensic tests on Don to corroborate his version, and to finally eliminate (or confirm) him as a possible suspect. Bear in mind that performing certain forensic tests, such as primer residue and trace metal detection tests, will be futile when the subject’s hands have been washed or were contaminated with blood - as was the case with Don Steenkamp.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Steenkamp family and their close relatives and friends. I sincerely hope this crime will be resolved soon!
***NOTE:
(Posted on 16 April @ 20:30)
Regarding the starting time of the TV soapy “Sewende Laan” on SABC 2 on Friday, 6 April 2012, the same day this tragedy occurred:
According to various sources a repeat of the previous show (Thursday 5 April) was screened at 15:00. Thereafter the usual Friday broadcast was televised, starting at the normal time of 18:30. The Afrikaans version of the magazine, “TV-PLUS”, covering the period 4 – 17 April 2012, is one of the many TV-guides that confirms this fact.
UPDATES
Here are the links to other posts that were recently published on this blog, concerning this tragedy:
UPDATE (Part 1) < Do not read this post if you have no interest in politics and/or content of an esoteric nature.
UPDATE (Part 2) < Focuses more on the “Forensic Ballistic” aspects of this case, based on information that has to date (2012-4-28) already been made public.
UPDATE (Part 3) < A continuation of part 2.
The Griekwastad NASPERS-PSYOP continues - Published on Sunday, 5 August 2012.
A follow-up on recent events concerning the Griekwastad-murders - Published on Thursday, 23 August 2012.
The Griekwastad Murder Trial - Published on Friday, 15 March 2013.
New comments have been disabled for this post.
Please visit the latest update if you wish to leave comments.
