The Van Bredas’ 16-year-old daughter, Marli, is in a critical condition in hospital and their 20-year-old son, Henri, – who was apparently only slightly injured – is being questioned by police “as a witness”.
Neighbours and friends are being quoted by local media as “reeling in shock” and at least one said the 20-year old son was “taken away” by police.
“[Henri] could not have been seriously injured because he could walk. I saw this myself,” Eben Potgieter, chairman of the estate’s home owners’ association, told Times Live. “Henri is being treated as a witness at this stage. He had scratches and cuts.”
Netwerk24 reported that Van Breda owned the Australian arm of international property company Engel & Völkers and the family had moved back to South Africa from Australia last year. Houses at the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, where they lived, average R9m, according to The Times.
Friends described them as “a perfect family”, the Cape Times reported. Another friend told the Times the children were very affectionate.
Times Live also reports that a neighbour’s domestic worker had seen Henri standing outside the house speaking on his cellphone. He had blood on him.
Police said no arrests had been made. Neither could they confirm that the murder weapon was an axe. No motive for the attack is being mentioned but the the estate’s homeowners association confirmed that there was no breach of security at the estate, which has an 8km fence and security cameras.
A source on the estate confirmed to News24 that the victims were attacked with an axe.
Apokesman for Emergency Medical Services in Western Cape, said “a young woman with serious head injuries was rushed to Stellenbosch Mediclinic. An adult male in his early 20s with minor injuries was taken into police custody for questioning.”
