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NATIONAL NEWS & VIDEO - The police have officially confirmed that the elderly couple who was found in the trunk of their vehicle in Bethal on Wednesday, 18 March, is Dr Hannes (70) and Ms Ibel (67) Beukes.
Initially, it was reported that two bodies were discovered locked in the trunk of a vehicle belonging to an elderly well-known couple from Bethal on Wednesday afternoon, 18 March.
Their identities were withheld until their three children who live abroad had been notified.
Dr Beukes was the Emeritus (retired) reverend of the Hervormde Kerk (Reformed Church) in Bethal, but still led services in Morgenzon.
According to Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, provincial police spokesman, the couple sustained severe injuries and were certified dead on the scene by Bethal EMS. Their bodies were locked in the trunk of their vehicle.
He said the Beukes couple left their home earlier in the day on Wednesday to drop off their helper at eMzinoni but never returned.
A motorcyclist passing through the veld on the corner of Kieser and Du Plooy Street close to the Bethal Dam, spotted the Beukes’ vehicle hidden in the tall grass and alerted the Bethal CPF.
The police launched an immediate manhunt to find those who murdered the couple.
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The Provincial Commissioner of police in Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma condemned the murders.
“It is disheartening dealing with such cases where certain individuals brutally attack and kill vulnerable and defenceless citizens.
"We have assigned a team of investigators to solve this matter and I am certain that those responsible will soon be arrested so that they can face the full might of the law. I would also like to send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”
According to a source close to the investigation, post mortems would be done to determine the exact cause of their deaths.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) must contact W/O Nico Veldman at 079 396 3652 or the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.
