Residents warned to stay away from this property
Johan Janse van Rensburg -- the Brakpan resident who lost his beautiful Sallies Village property to illegal miners -- is appealing to the community to stay away from his land.
Janse van Rensburg, who has been attacked numerous times on his own property, told the Herald that the area is dangerous and that the general public should refrain from going there.
“I want people to know that it is not safe,” he said.
“I have heard of other people being attacked and it needs to be prevented from happening.
“I was there myself recently and I was threatened again.”
According to Janse van Rensburg, children are fond of playing in the area and the nearby dam is a favourite haunt amongst local fisherman.
“There are also people who cross the railway line, which is extremely dangerous, as well as illegal, and take a shortcut through my property,” he said.
“People think it’s owned by the mines, but the whole piece is privately owned.
“Everyone must be warned to stay away.”
His property, which is situated along 15th Road, stretches over 110 acres, and its boundaries include Nigel Road, Sixteenth Road and Twentieth Road, in Witpoort Estates.
The Herald reported on Janse van Rensburg’s horrific experience with illegal miners, last year (‘I’ve lost everything’).
An avid horse enthusiast, Janse van Rensburg bought the property — the former Brakpan pay offices of Sallies Mine — several years ago, with the aim of establishing an equine assisted therapy facility in the area.
After spending millions of rand on restoration, he also hoped to transform his new home into a venue for weddings and other functions.
This, however, all changed when the 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.
Last year, his house was burned to the ground.
