Couple killed at old-age home

2008-02-18 08:07

Marietie Louw-Carstens

Mokopane - "They were two weak old people who did nobody any harm - they were helpless, "says Hantie Malan, whose parents, Ludwig Wernich, 76, and his wife, Rita, 69, were murdered at an old-age complex.

It is believed the Wernichs were murdered in their unit in the Maroela flats, on Friday on the grounds of the Piet Potgieter Monument Home at Mokopane.

The flats are right next door to the town's police station.

The murders occurred a week after 57-year-old missionary's wife Rheinette Meyer had her throat slashed at Mokopane.

Police are investigating a possible link between the killings.

Malan said two neighbours had discovered her parents' bodies in the main bedroom of the flat on Saturday morning.

Malan said there was a handkerchief in her father's mouth and a pillow over her mother's head.

Had tea with the neighbours

Limpopo police spokesperson Ronel Otto said the killers had removed Ludwig's oxygen tubes from his nose. He often had to use oxygen for easier breathing.

Rita was either strangled or suffocated.

Malan said her parents had had tea with neighbours on Friday morning.

Malan, who lives in Polokwane, also spoke to them by phone that morning.

Mariana van Tonder, the manager of the old-age home, said the Wernichs were last seen at about 11:00 on Friday morning.

She said: "Their neighbours didn't notice anything unusual."

Otto said the neighbours noticed a man with a cap similar to Wernich's driving his car out of the premises late on Friday.

Rita had difficulty walking, and her walking-frame was seen outside their house on Saturday morning.

Front door was open

On Saturday morning, two neighbours saw the Wernich's garage door was ajar and their car was gone. They became suspicious and went to investigate.

The Wernichs' front door was open and it was suspected that this was how the killers gained access. Beside the car being stolen, a DVD player and some jewellery was missing from the house.

Van Tonder suspects someone may have tampered with the security camera at the main gate of the old-age home.

"Why don't they just take what they want and leave people alone? It's the weakest people who are being targeted by criminals," said a shocked Malan.

- Beeld