The De Zalze Murders. Julian Jansen
John Wayne films.
At an early stage of the marriage Martin already told Teresa he would like his children to study at his alma mater, Stellenbosch University, one day. And that he would like to live in the town himself.
The successful businessman took his family on frequent trips to new and exciting destinations. But they also spent holidays at their luxury home in the exclusive Thesen Islands waterfront development in Knysna in the southern Cape, relaxed at their property in Sabie Park bordering the Kruger National Park, or entertained friends on the farm, Rietfontein.
The Van Bredas lived in Waterkloof Heights, a posh suburb in the old east of Pretoria, for several years. Their property was high-lying, with a double-storey house, cypress trees and bougainvillea climbers lining the long driveway, a leafy garden, and a swimming pool.
The worrying crime situation sometimes caused Martin to wonder aloud whether he should take his family out of the country. Then he acquired the Australian subsidiary of the German property group Engel & Völkers. The company specialises in the sale and leasehold of prime residential and commercial property, as well as yachts. In 2006 the Van Bredas uprooted themselves and moved to Australia.
Their new home was an elegant grey face-brick double-storey house in a leafy street in Claremont, Perth. With its white window frames and three little peaked roofs, it looks like a storybook house. It has four spacious bedrooms, three bathrooms, a double garage.
Martin’s workplace was in a modern office complex in the Subiaco business district of Perth. He had an extremely active business life. A new start in the relatively safer Australia excited him.
The six-year-old Marli was enrolled at the Presbyterian Ladies’ College in the city. Rudi (then 12) and Henri (10) became students at the prestigious Scotch College, a private school for boys.
Rudi’s endearing nature soon made him very popular with his classmates. His constant smile was contagious. He gained a wide circle of friends and regularly shared photos of functions on social media. In time, he became a model of success, both in sport – he excelled at rugby, team rowing, water polo and tennis – and academically. Rudi became best friends with Sam Fearon, a fellow pupil who later became a musician. The two sporty youngsters enjoyed many adventures together, and successfully completed a challenging 19-kilometre channel swim from Perth to Rottnest Island in 2008, when they were only 15. Teresa was a homemaker, and often went swimming with them or at times just stood on the shore as they trained, or simply cavorted, in the sea.
Rudi obtained his science degree at the University of Melbourne and embarked on his master’s degree in mechanical engineering. It seemed as if he would follow in his father’s footsteps. Love also blossomed for Rudi after he met the attractive brunette Nicole East.
In his teenage years, Henri, on the other hand, spent hours at the computer, mostly playing games. He was happy on his own, with only his laptop and tablet for company. He seldom socialised and did not have a girlfriend. He was a loner who kept his thoughts to himself. After matriculating at Scotch College in 2012, Henri registered for a degree in physics at the same university as his brother.
After seven years in Perth, the family had to move yet again. Engel & Völkers had opened a new office in Mooloolaba, a waterfront development north of Brisbane on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and was looking for someone to run it. To Martin, this was a new challenge and business opportunity.
The Van Bredas’ next residence was an impressive two-level house of ironbark timber and stone, on a 3,8-hectare plot in Box Street, Buderim. The 12-sided Aquila House has six bedrooms on the ground floor and three on the top level, each with an en-suite bathroom and a veranda with sea and forest views. Hundreds of trees stand on the property, in between waving elephant grass.
Marli, now 13 years old, was delighted with her new school, Matthew Flinders Anglican College. She shared her happiness in her new environment on Facebook. She liked the school uniform very much: a white blouse, blue-and-green tartan skirt and tie, with a white hat and blue hatband. Marli and her friends regularly explored the city and its surrounds, had fun at the beach or simply went shopping. Photos that she shared on social media give glimpses of the family’s holidays in South Africa and at various exotic locations.
On one occasion, she was unable to visit a friend in Melbourne because her new dental braces hurt slightly, but also because her father had just returned from a business trip to South Africa. ‘I know my dad is tired of flying around …!!! Grrrrrr I wish I could!!!’ her Facebook message read.
During a holiday in South Africa Marli wrote how she missed being at Club Med in Mauritius, where the family had stayed on one of their trips. ‘Club Med is the absolute BEST place for a holiday. Mostly to have a break of ur parents and just hanging out with some cool kids from around the world!!!!!!’
At some stage, Teresa invited her close friend Michelle and her family to visit them in Buderim – because she ‘missed her so very much’. ‘I’ve already worked out how you should fly,’ Teresa told Michelle. But Michelle’s youngest son dislocated his shoulder, and the trip to Australia had to be postponed on account of the operation.
After two years in Buderim, Martin had to close the Mooloolaba office, apparently as a result of a global financial crisis.
In 2014 another exciting opportunity presented itself to Martin: opening a private school in South Africa. He decided that he would return home together with Teresa and Marli; Rudi and Henri first had to complete their studies in Melbourne before joining them permanently.
He and Teresa chose to move to the student town of Stellenbosch in the Boland region, with its winelands and beautiful scenery. Martin’s long-time wish to live in Stellenbosch would be realised.
The couple was very excited, friends said. Martin had always hoped Marli would one day attend Stellenbosch University, as he had done years before. Marli, too, was thrilled to be back, especially because the family would be closer to their South African relatives and she could see them more frequently.
Martin kept the house in Buderim, as well as their cars. According to a colleague, he intended to return there.
The picturesque and exclusive De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate was Martin and Teresa’s first choice. The estate is situated in a wine-making region that includes the towns of Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Franchhoek, Paarl and Wellington. Word-class wines are produced here. The name of the 300-hectare estate, with its houses in a modern Cape Dutch style, originates from early wine farms in the area: Groote Zalze, Kleine Zalze and Die Vleie. The estate with its 18-hole championship golf course is also a working farm, with 120 hectares of vineyards, citrus orchards and olive groves.
Since its establishment in 2002 De Zalze has become one of the most sought-after property investments in South Africa. There are security cameras, and guards patrol the estate round the clock. Good security comes at a price; some houses here have fetched up to R16 million. Everything about the set-up impressed Martin.
The couple bought the white double-storey house at 12 Goske Street for R4,6 million and moved into their new home in March 2014. Marli was enrolled in Grade 10 at Somerset College, outside the nearby town of Somerset West. In August Henri joined them from Australia. Rumours were circulating that he had dropped out of university.
After Rudi joined his family just over a week before Christmas, they travelled to Gauteng to visit Teresa’s brothers Heinrich and Francois du Toit and their sisters Wessie du Toit, Leenta Nel and Narita du Toit, among others. (André du Toit from Welgelegen, Parow, is their other brother.) Martin’s twin brothers in the north were also on the itinerary. In between, the Van Breda family relaxed for a few days at their holiday home in Knysna.
On Wednesday, 21 January 2015, Marli started her school year at Somerset College. At R104 000 per year, the English-speaking private school on the farm Vredelus is among the most expensive in the country. The school is a 10-minute drive from De Zalze. The vivacious blonde teenager was a member of a lift club started by parents from the estate the previous year.
On Friday Teresa phoned her brother Heinrich to congratulate him on his 61st birthday. They had a long conversation. The coming