Modern-day witch hunt? Rocco Viljoen speaks out

Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - In a follow-up interview, Rocco Viljoen (58), a friend of Nicky van Heerden (54), has spoken out against social media claims accusing him of being a cult leader and insinuating his involvement in Van Heerden’s murder.

Viljoen said these false accusations, made by anti-crime activist Morné Swart, have upended his life.

George Herald first spoke to Viljoen on 25 January, shortly after his name had surfaced online following the discovery of Van Heerden’s body near the Keurbooms River just past midnight on Monday 19 January.

Swart, who has about 48 000 Facebook followers, posted (translated from Afrikaans): “This man’s name is Rocco Viljoen, a cult leader in the Knysna area, and there is a direct connection between him and the murdered detective from Knysna. Before I send all my information to the authorities, I am asking for more details about this man. I am also in possession of a voice note that the murdered woman posted on a WhatsApp group the night before her murder. This tragedy is going to shock the country.”

This post has since been deleted.

The voice note mentioned in the post was one Van Heerden had sent out on a spirituality group Viljoen administered on Saturday evening, 17 January, the day before her death. This voice note Swart publicly claimed to have released on social media. In it, Van Heerden mentions Viljoen by name and warns his followers against him.

Swart later issued an apology to Viljoen via a voice note.

Viljoen denies all allegations, saying he has not been arrested and is not a cult leader, but simply an “old man sitting under a tree”, sharing thoughts with his WhatsApp group and a small social media following of about 5 000 people.

Despite this, Viljoen said the continued rumours have made daily life unbearable. He describes feeling trapped, unable to leave the farm on which he stays or appear in public without being stared at or shouted at. His landlady asked him to leave, and he has since relocated. Viljoen said he no longer feels safe in the Garden Route and has even been approached by media outlets such as Carte Blanche.

Unable to secure work due to harassment and threats to his safety, Viljoen lodged a case of crimen injuria against Swart at the Knysna Police Station. He said the continued accusations have also caused distress to his family and friends. “You can’t destroy someone who has nothing to lose,” he said, vowing to stay strong despite the upheaval in his life.

Swart was approached for comment, but declined to respond.

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