The body under the bridge

GEORGE NEWS - Three years after the body of Anton Wessou (24) was found under the Gwaing Bridge on the N2 highway, the cause of his death remains a mystery.

The death of this young man divided a close knit family in Wolwedans, in Great Brak River.

To this day the deceased’s next of kin struggles to deal with his untimely departure, not knowing under what circumstances he died and if the police is indeed investigating a homicide.

Wessou’s mother who lives in Beaufort West and his sister, who still resides in Wolwedans, find it difficult to talk about the case. They believe he was murdered and they would like some answers.

The man under the bridge
Wessou's body was found in a river bed in January 2015, two weeks after he went missing on 19 December 2014. A group of young Xhosa men who went for a bath during a traditional ritual followed the smell and found the body, where after they notified the police.

It took the police, forensic pathologists and paramedics an hour and a half to secure the body on a stretcher and haul it from the river bed to the top of the bridge.

Although Wessou's ID was found on the body, police didn't want to confirm his identification before DNA tests were done, since the heat and natural elements deteriorated the body to such an extent that the facial features were unidentifiable.

Several months after the body was found, the George Herald continuously sent inquiries in this regard to establish if the DNA results are available. Up to date no feedback was received on these results, the cause of death and whether a murder docket has been opened. The case was transferred to Great Brak River Police.

That fateful night
Wessou and his cousin, Flippie Hendricks, hitched a lift from George to Great Brak River on the night of 19 December. Footage on a CCTV camera reveals that they got into a car with three other men at the Caltex petrol station in York Street.

Hendricks was removed from the vehicle at some stage, and it is uncertain exactly what happened to Wessou.

Hettie Fillies, Wessou's cousin, told the George Herald that the exact sequence of events on the night of 19 December is still a mystery. "Anton and Flippie work for a garden service and often work in George and surrounding areas," said Fillies. "On Friday 19 December they stayed in George after work and went to visit Anton's brother, who also resides there. At some stage the brother took them to the Caltex garage in York Street so that they could hitch a lift to Great Brak River."

"On CCTV footage, obtained from the garage, they are seen getting into a modified greyish Honda hatchback with a CAW registration number, with three men inside," said Fillies. "They declined a first opportunity from a taxi. Apparently it was too expensive. The men asked R150 for the trip."

From George the cousins went to the nightclub Jolly Jol in Great Brak River where Fillies's son, Jacques Fillies, saw them getting out of the car. "Jacques said Flippie was visibly freaked out, and it looked as if the men had tried to assault him and Anton. The driver had a gun in his back pocket," said Fillies. The three men followed them into the nightclub. "Jacques helped to calm the situation," said Fillies.

After that, both Anton and Flippie apparently got into the car with the three men again and drove all the way back to George.

CCTV footage reveals that this happened at about 01:15 on Saturday 20 December. According to Fillies, they then took another lift with the three men, again to Great Brak River. Back at Jolly Jol, Jacques saw the car driving off with Flippie lying in the street.

"Flippie refuses to talk about what happened," said Fillies. "We know they both left George in the car for the second time, but only Flippie got out in Great Brak River."

Waiting for closure
Although the police never gave any feedback on the case, Fillies said they know it was Wessou’s body found under the bridge. "I saw a photo of the body. It was in real bad shape, but I could see from the framework of the face it is Anton," she said. Her son, Jacques, recognised his nephew’s teeth, which had a unique shine on the two front teeth. "We called it his birth diamonds," said Fillies. "It was very distinctive."

She is frustrated with the police, whom she believes has never questioned Flippie Hendricks.

"We wrote a letter to the brigadier in Mossel Bay, complaining about the way the case was handled," said Fillies.

"All we know is that his skull was broken. We have no idea if they are investigating a homicide. As far as we are concerned, the case is stark cold."
According to Fillies, Wessou always carried money in one of his socks. He received his bonus and salary on the night they went out. "When his body was found, his one foot didn’t have a shoe on, and there was no money in that sock," said Fillies.

"When Anton’s sister, Rosina, asked Flippie: 'What happened?', he said: 'Twankie, you know what your brother is like, I don’t owe you the truth'. We are certain he knows more, but he wouldn’t tell. He cried without stop in the presence of the police right after the incident."

The George Herald was unsuccessful in making contact with Hendricks.

On the day Wessou’s body was found, Fillies and the rest of the family visited the scene and placed flowers in the river bed.

"We can’t find closure, the silence has made the family very bitter."

Anton Wessou