North West Acting MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Dr Magome Masike on Sunday condemned in the strongest terms the shocking murder of 51 year-old Deon van Staden and his girlfriend Babs Strecker (73). The farming couple were found murdered on their smallholding near Modikwe and Bethanie villages in the North West province on Friday evening.
MEC Masike said that investigations are underway to bring those responsible for the gruesome murders to book and that police will not leave any stone unturned. Dr Masike appealed for compassion and for the murders not to be reduced to cheap political point scoring.
“All of us should condemn the heinous crime and come forward with information that should assist police in their investigations,” he pleaded.
According to relatives who were at the scene of the crime, the couples were allegedly playing board game when they were attacked. It is suspected that the attacker/s were known to them because there was no forced entry. Their bodies with multiple stab wounds were allegedly discovered by a man who came to deliver wooden poles.
Van Staden was reportedly still sitting in his fallen chair on the kitchen floor when he was found while Strecker's feet were in the kitchen doorway suggesting that she tried to run away towards the bedroom.
The Acting MEC had last month during the provincialcelebration of National Police Day noted that police had paid 3 383 farm visits during their Duty Calls Festive Season Crime fighting operations in their effort to protect farmers against crime.
He also urged police to strengthen and deepen their relationship with farmers and other stakeholders within farming communities in order to prevent farm attacks and stock theft.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
