Afrikaner woman torched in Bloemfontein

2010-07-27 Mrs Johanna Breedt, 64, Bayswater, Bloemfontein, torched to death: police ‘do not suspect a crime’.

BLOEMFONTEIN. The SAPS ‘do not suspect a crime’ in the torching-death of Mrs Johanna Breedt, 64, of the Serenitas Retirement Centre in Bayswater. Volksblad journalist Earl Coetzee reports that ‘it appears as if a flammable liquid was poured over Mrs Breedt in a field at Polhymnia Street before she was set alight.’ Her distraught husband Rev Johan Breedt reportedly is inconsolable and says he doesn’t know what could have happened.

SAPS LtCol Annelie Wrensch said that from the evidence found at the Breedt home and that of a friend, her death ‘may not have been crime-related’. As required by law, an inquest into her death was opened.

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A worker at a private residenceright next to the field went to investigate why their dogs were barking so much – and when she saw the burning woman, she alerted her homeowner Mr Mos Grobler, the SAPS and the fire department. A member of the Bloemsec-private security company who was patrolling the street also rushed in to help douse the flames. Mr Grobler said that initially he did not recognise the burnt woman – until he noticed her car parked nearby, and her cellphone near the scene, and realised that it was Mrs Breedt – a close family friend.

She was still alive when paramedics from ER24 rushed her from the scene to the Bloemfontein MediClinic with 100% burn wounds: she died shortly after 9pm. Medical personnel said her burn wounds were ‘the worst any of them had ever seen’. Her distraught and crying husband, Reverend Johan Breedt, stood helplessly at the scene and was reportedly inconsolable. He told the journalist that he ‘doesn’t know what happened at all and is awaiting information from the SAPS”. Their two daughters, Mrs Marina Wessels and Ms Daleen Breedt, were with their father, and their eldest daughter Mrs Marisa van Niekerk was expected to arrive from Hongkong.

Daughter Daleen said “she was a phenomenal mom. A homemaker par excellence and always well-dressed and immaculately groomed.’

SAPS Lt-Col Annelie Wrensch said that according to evidence found at the Breedt home and that of a friend, the indications are that her death may not have been crime-related. An inquest into her death has been opened. http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Aan-brand-gesteek-vrou-sterf-in-veld-20100728