Murdered Alberton mother and son: Alleged mastermind denied bail again

Frederick ‘Freddie’ Stapelberg applied again for bail based on new facts. He formerly applied for bail schedule six which was denied on March 6.

Emotions ran high as Stapelberg (34) made his second bail application, represented by Advocate Solomon Tshivhase, alongside co-accused Pardon Danhire (37), in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court from August 27 to 29.

During a previous court appearance, Stapelberg’s bail was unsuccessful due to concerns regarding his psychological state, which was considered potentially dangerous to himself and others.

According to the investigating officer’s testimony previously read out in court, the events and investigation unfolded as follows:

“The incident unfolded on November 27, 2023, in Randhart, where Nadine Terblanche and her son Ruandré Vorster fell victim to a gruesome attack. Terblanche was found strangled to death in her sleep, while Vorster, who was playing outside at the time, was later suffocated with a pillow upon being called to his room.

“The cause of death for Terblanche was manual strangulation and sharp force trauma to the head while Vorster’s injuries were consistent with suffocation.

“The couple also faced financial difficulties. At the beginning of November, Stapelberg spoke to Danhire about the plan to murder Terblanche and pay him R100 000 for it.

“Danhire stole an axe from one of his employers before the murders. He then remained in the house waiting for Stapelberg to return from work to get his money. When Stapelberg arrived home, he told Danhire he would withdraw the money the following day. A feud ensued between them; it was then that Stapelberg pressed the panic button.”

‘Hopeless attempt to save his skin’

After thoroughly preparing for the bail application on new facts, Tshivhase pointed out that his client deserved justice.

“The State abused the advantage of the allowance of unproven allegation on hearsay evidence during the initial stage of the bail application. He was also denied bail based on the confession made by accused one,” Tshivhase said.

As per the statement, Stapelberg stated that he fought with Danhire to get him arrested as he was trying to evade arrest. He described his confession statement as a ‘hopeless attempt to save his skin’.

“Accused one’s confession statement is an attempt by him to find an exit route from the situation in which he finds himself. I find it grossly unfair that I’m being refused bail as a result of a confession statement made by an accused who was arrested as a result of my effort,” Tshivhase read.

Tshivhase said the accused was the father of three minor children who depended on him, as the mother of the children is unemployed.

He said: “The investigation officer could’ve done better. When he entered the house he was nearly killed by accused number one. He said to him, ‘Hi boss how was your day?’ While he was responding to that, he was attacked with an axe and hit in the chest. Luckily, he had a necklace that saved him.”

According to Tshivhase, Stapelberg would’ve been killed as well and the investigating officer failed to lay a charge of attempted murder. Since that, he has never been the same.

He also stressed an emphasis on Stapelberg’s health needing attention, and the fact that his children also need his support.

Bail application opposed

“The court was informed by the State that an indictment on several charges was served for the applicant to make his first appearance in the Johannesburg High Court on September 6,” said the presiding magistrate.

@albertonrecord

Emotions ran high as Stapelberg (34) made his second bail application, represented by Advocate Solomon Tshivhase, alongside co-accused Pardon Danhire (37), in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court from August 27 to 29. #Stapelberg #Danhire #Alberton #Murder #MotherSon

♬ original sound – Alberton Record

During his judgement, he cited that the purpose of producing new facts was not to address problems encountered in the previous application or to fill gaps in the previously presented evidence.

As the matter proceeded, some members of the Department of Community Safety stood in solidarity outside the court, advocating against his release.

According to a replying affidavit compiled by investigating officer Sergeant Mmakgabo Moloto, read out by the prosecutor, this was merely a reshuffling of old evidence.

“The facts set out in the affidavit of the applicant, do not mount to new facts which are sufficiently different from the facts presented during the initial unsuccessful bail application. It is merely a reshuffling of old evidence. I do not intend to reply to every allegation contained in the statement of the applicant, I still stand by the contents of my affidavit filed in the original bail application of the applicant,” she said.

She stated that the fact that the applicant is a father of three minor children is a fact that was indeed taken into consideration by the honourable court during the initial bail application.

“The fact that accused one [Danhire] confessed to pointing out against the applicant is not the only evidence that the State intends to rely on during the trial. The applicant was not fighting with the accused one to have him arrested as he was not running away; he was waiting for the applicant to return from work to be paid,” she explained.

Moloto said there was no evidence to substantiate the claim that the confession of the accused was a mere retaliation to falsely implicate the applicant.

She reiterated that the allegation that the State did not obtain fresh evidence against the applicant was false and untrue.

Additionally, as per the statement presented before the court, Natasha Stapelberg also reached out to the investigating officer, stating that the allegations that Stapelberg provides for his children were not true.

The prosecutor then read into record Natasha’s statement, who is awaiting the finalisation of her divorce.

“This is after I heard Frederick Stapelberg saying he wants bail because the kids are struggling. I’m currently staying with my kids together with my father and my stepmother. Freddie never maintained the kids, only his father was helping me in buying food, school uniform, clothing and paying nursery school fees,” she stated.

During her statement, she reiterated that she is employed and receives an income.

Stapelberg’s father, Francois, also took to the witness stand to present his statement.

“Frederick has always supported his children for years. Frederick at various times gave me provisions to hand over to Natasha and the kids as they did not communicate. I supported the kids financially and in their basic needs for many years and probably will continue supporting both my children and grandchildren to the best of my ability,” he said.

The presiding magistrate denied Stapelberg bail. Both accused are expected to make their first appearance in the Johannesburg High Court on September 6 for two counts of murder. Until then, they remain in custody.