As the Blokland family of Rynfield prepared to bid farewell to husband and father Nardus (55) on November 14, his wife is questioning how her husband’s alleged killer was granted bail.
Described as a dedicated family man who had a gentle soul, Alison is grappling to come to terms with the savage manner in which her husband of 31 years was murdered, allegedly by someone she considered a friend of her husband.
“He ripped my soulmate from my life and has ruined our family, yet he is walking free while we have to arrange a funeral,” Alison told the Benoni City Times.
On November 4, the couple headed to Highside Tavern in Tonteldoos, which is owned by Sean Swart, in celebration of his 40th birthday.
Although the official celebration was only set to take place on November 5, many of those in attendance arrived the day before to make a weekend of the festivities.
“I had never met Sean but he and Nardus had become good friends after they were introduced through a mutual friend,” she said.
“Upon arrival, the mood on the farm was jovial and everyone was having a good time.”
In a video shared with the City Times, Blokland and Swart can be seen laughing as he pours a drink and two jugs of water over Nardus’s head.
The video was captured by Alison at 20:23 on November 4.
“Nardus did not even flinch when Sean poured alcohol and water over him. Everyone was in good spirits. What transpired in the next 60 minutes was like a horror movie and there was nothing I could do to stop it.”
According to eyewitnesses, Nardus and Sean’s brother-in-law were showing each other some martial arts moves, when the brother-in-law, who had recently undergone a hip replacement, fell.
“He got up, they shook hands and continued laughing,” Alison said.
Sean, who had witnessed the exchange from a distance, then allegedly stormed Nardus and hit him.
“He was heard saying that no one messes with his family and then went into the pub.”
Alison alleged that Sean then came out with a wooden bar stool, which he used to hit Nardus with.
“I was sitting a distance away with a friend when I saw him taking a swing at Nardus with the chair,” she alleged.
“Nardus immediately fell to the ground and Sean continued to kick and hit him,” said Alison.
“Other party-goers pulled him from Nardus. After that, Sean allegedly disappeared.
“There was blood coming from Nardus’s ears and nose. Friends started administering first-aid but by 21:35 there was no pulse or heartbeat. It took the ambulance three hours to arrive.”
Alison said she sat with her husband until his body was removed in the early hours of the morning.
“I keep replaying the incident in my head, trying to put it all together,” she said.
“It all seems so surreal, almost like a dream. They were friends. How could this have happened?”
Nardus is believed to have died of head and chest injuries.
In 2020, Alison underwent two knee operations, which have since prevented her from running.
“I keep thinking that if only I could have run to Nardus would I have been able to help him?” she said.
“But the reality is I could not help him. The attack was too severe.”
Following his second appearance in the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on November 9, Sean was released on R15 000 bail.
Nardus is survived by his two children and granddaughter.
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