Paul van Niekerk of Wonderboom South said on Thursday he suspected neighbours, David Nkebenyane, 56, and his wife, Florence Malatadiane, 70, had gone to the rescue of his parents-in-law, Johannes Jacobus Mostert, 71, and his wife, Susan, 61, after they were shot. Unfortunately, they, too, lost their lives.
Van Niekerk said it was possible the attackers might have wanted to kill all witnesses to their crime.
The two couples had lived next door to each other for the past six months on Witkoppies farm between Meyerton and Henley-on-Klip.
Mostert was shot in the head and chest while his wife was strangled with barbed wire.
Their bodies were found in their house.
According to captain Shodo Mashobane, Nkebenyane was shot in the shoulder, while Malatadiane was shot in the arm. Their bodies were found in their small one-roomed house.
Bodies locked in house
It is believed the murders were committed about 19:00 on Wednesday night, but the bodies were discovered only on Thursday.
The bodies of the Mosterts were found after police kicked in the back door of their house. The dead couple had been locked in.
A shocked Van Niekerk said he and his wife, Elize, the Mosterts' daughter, heard of the attack only on Thursday morning. They immediately went to the house.
Van Niekerk said it appeared as if his mother had been cooking dinner when they were attacked.
Beeld was unable to trace relatives of Nkebenyane and Malatadiane.
Van Niekerk said the Mosterts had lived in Phalaborwa, but had moved to the Vaaldriehoek area after Mr Mostert retired.
They had lived in De Deur, but felt unsafe there. A friend then offered them a house on his farm, where they had lived for the past few months.
Van Niekerk said that cell phones, a car and a .22 firearm appeared to have been stolen.
