‘I’ve lost everything’
Brakpan man's house torched and horses slaughtered as illegal miners stop at nothing to get to gold.
In their frenzied hunt for gold on his land, illegal miners have destroyed everything belonging to a Brakpan man — from his historic home and its mining relics, to his precious Friesian horses and one-of-a-kind horse-drawn carriages.
Now, in an attempt to reclaim his life and property, Johan Janse van Rensburg is offering a R100 000 reward for information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.
An avid horse enthusiast, Janse van Rensburg bought the property — the former Brakpan pay offices of Sallies Mine — seven years ago, with the aim of establishing an equine assisted therapy facility in the area.
After spending millions of rand on restoration, Janse van Rensburg also hoped to transform his new home into a venue for weddings and other functions.
This, however, all changed about four years ago, when his property became the target of illegal miners.
He has since been subjected to numerous criminal incidents, including violent acts of arson and theft, and his life has been threatened countless times.
“They started small by mining on the outskirts of the property, but then the break-ins started,” said Janse van Rensburg.
The latest incident, which took place last month, saw the entire building gutted by fire.
“There was just a shell left, but that is also disappearing brick by brick,” said Janse van Rensburg, who is currently staying with relatives.
“There was a lot of history there, the building itself was over 100 years old and I had many mining artefacts that have now all been lost.”
Janse van Rensburg has suffered years of torment at the hands of the illegal miners and recalled an incident in which he was chased, resulting in a broken leg, and another in which the miners shot at his property and told him to go back to his own country.
“I just can’t go onto my property, they want to kill me,” he said.
He also relayed barbaric tales of finding his beloved Friesian horses dead; in total, 47 of his horses have been killed.
The animals were poisoned or cruelly slaughtered.
Added to this heartache, is the loss of his beautiful horse-drawn carriages and wagons.
Dated between 100 and 180 years old, and acquired from all over the world, the carriages have either been stolen or torched.
“These are things I will never been able to find again or replace,” said Janse van Rensburg.
“I’ve lost everything.”
He has calculated his losses to be in the millions and told the Herald it would cost at least R50-million to rebuild.
Even more alarming, however, are Janse van Rensburg’s claims that police have done very little to protect him and his property.
“In all this time, I have had no help from police,” he said, claiming to have even been attacked in front of members of the SAPS.
“It’s just not the way I thought it would be.
“In the last few months I’ve opened more than 40 cases and not once has an investigating officer contacted me.
“These people just do what they want and they do it in full view of the police.
“If they are caught, there is never ‘enough evidence’.”
Janse van Rensburg also claimed his neighbours were falling victim to the illegal miners.
“A lot of them are in the same situation and some businesses have been forced to close down because of the thefts” he said.
Brakpan police have denied the allegations and Capt Joep Joubert, spokesperson for the station commander, commented that a case of arson is currently being investigated.
Anyone with information can contact Janse van Rensburg on 082 954 6301.
Dit is so onregverdig. Ons ken vir Johan persoonlik, en hy sal nie ‘n vlieg skade aandoen nie. Het die hele storie op Carte Blanche ook gesien, en die polisie doen niks. Dit het niks met ras te doen nie, maar wel onwettige mynery op privaat grond. Wens ‘n mens kon die wetters voor die voet doodskiet.
Not to be nasty but you need to give this story more exposure. Take it to 94.7 or 3rd degree. This is something that cannot be allowed to happen.
A case of arson only? How about animal cruelty in the highest degree? I am incensed imagining the horrors that these horses went through at the hands of these savages. You need to give this more exposure. I certainly am.
“hy sal nie ‘n vlieg skade aandoen nie.”
That’s the problem. Shoot the invaders, and they will learn.
let them dig, let them mine, close the lid, problem solved…
Sad to hear this. My Grandfather was the first mine manager at Sallies. The first gold pour was witnessed by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer. My parents held their wedding reception at the Recreation Hall in 1940. I worked in the pay office from 1963 to 1970 before being transferred. Also lived in the mine single quarters which a see is now a type of Kibbutz. So sorry for the owners loss these criminal need to be dealt with,