Mooinooi women brutality tortured and killed, 7 arrested

Mooinooi – Two Mooinooi women, Joey (32) and Anisha van Niekerk (30), who had been reported missing on Sunday, 10 December, never arrived at their destination. The couple were supposed to go to Pretoria to make funeral arrangements after Joey’s father passed on. 

A band of seven, six men and one female, were arrested after Joey and Anisha were brutally tortured and killed in a shipping container. The police are yet to reveal in which way the seven are involved. 
The burned out shell of their vehicle was found on Saturday, 16 December in the Magaliesburg area. The police reacted by launching an investigation and in a short space of time seven suspects were arrested. 

“Belongings of the two women were found in the possession of the suspects, including their bank cards,” says warrant officer Mpeile Talane, police spokesperson.  

The motives for the double murder are thought to stem from a dispute over a property transaction of a small farm in Mooinooi, close to Rustenburg. 

Investigations first lead the Brits police to Majakaneng, where three suspects were arrested, says cluster commander of Brits, major general Modisagarekwe Mosimanegape. 

According to brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, the seven arrested suspects are:  Koos Strydom (53), Vincent Strydom (29), Maruschka Opperman (18), Aaron Sithole (23), Alex Mudua (36), Moses Rakubu (33) and a male who claims to be a minor. 

They all appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 5 January, facing charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and defeating the course of justice. The case was postponed to Wednesday, 10 January, and again to Monday, 15 January. 

Family and friends of Joey and Anisha are desperate. They issued a reward of R5000 to anyone who can offer information that will lead to the successful apprehension of 21-year old Mercia Witney van Rooi of Mooinooi. Mercia, fiancé of Koos Strydom, is wanted by the Mooinooi police in connection with the kidnapping and murder of the Van Niekerk couple. 

If you have information, please contact 082-337 3052, 082-855 0397, 064-648 1577 or 079-974 4024.
“Burned human remains were found in bushes along the R104 near Buffelsfontein and have been sent for DNA testing to determine the identity of the remains. We suspect the remains are those of the two missing women,” says brigadier Mokgwabone. Investigations continue. 

We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Joey and Anisha.