Brakpan police are investigating a trio of murders after three residents lost their lives in separate violent acts last week.
The body of well-known Brakpan resident Ken Appelcryn (55), owner of AAS Security, was found in a vehicle in a veld following a break-in at a bottle store in Maryvlei early last Wednesday morning.
He was fatally shot after responding to the incident, during which liquor and other valuables were stolen.
According to Brakpan SAPS spokesperson Captain Pearl van Staad, police were notified of a burglary in progress at around 02:20 and proceeded to the scene along Lemmer Road.
At the store, the responding officer found a security guard who summoned him to an open veld in Withok Estates.
“At the secondary scene in the veld, the officer found one male lying on the ground and another in a vehicle,” said van Staad.
“He saw the male (Appelcryn) lying motionless in the car.”
The man on the ground was disarmed of a gun which was concealed in his pants. He sustained multiple wounds to his upper body.
He was treated on scene and taken to the Far East Rand Hospital under police guard. Appelcryn was declared dead on the scene.
Van Staad told the Brakpan Herald eight cartridges were found, as well as bottles of alcohol and cigarettes.
The suspect’s firearm contained five rounds of ammunition. Later that day, at around 18:20, a robbery at a house along 20th Road in Denneoord was reported to the police.
The home’s 53-year-old female owner was critically injured when her throat was cut during the incident.
She was transported via ambulance to the Pholosong Hospital in Tsakani before police arrived. She died the following day.
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Arriving on the scene, the responding officer was met by a tenant of the property.
“He mentioned that the owner of the house had been rushed to the hospital,” said van Staad.
“He ushered the officer to the main bedroom where the victim had been lying in a pool of blood.
“Two bedrooms in the house had been ransacked and wardrobes were wide open with blood stains on the handles.
“Upon investigation, the sliding door leading to the back of the house was open, also with blood stains on the floor and handles.
“Outside, the fence and electric fence were cut and it appears entry was gained through there.
“An okapi knife with a brown handle was found in the grass, with blood stains, near the fence.”
Van Staad explained the victim’s son (28) told police he had last seen his mother at about 11:30 that morning.
“He further stated he received an unknown call from someone who spoke English informing him there was somebody around the premises at about 12:45.
“He came and observed by driving around the house but did not enter the dwelling.
“He alleged that he then had to go to Boksburg to meet up with his wife.”
The victim’s cellphone and laptop were missing. Following her death, a police team went out and conducted a secondary investigation at the residence.
Family members and neighbours were re-interviewed and forensics were re-summoned to the scene. All cellphones were seized as exhibits.
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“On Friday, the son was taken out for investigation in Daveyton where he confessed to his mother’s death,” said van Staad.
“The relevant role players for a confession statement were summoned and he pointed out his accomplice.”
The son and his 28-year-old male accomplice were both detained during the early hours of Saturday morning.
The third murder docket of the week was opened on Sunday, when police were called to an address along
Hamilton Avenue at around 10:00 after receiving a report of a house robbery. The body of a 55-year-old man was found at the home.
“On arrival SAPS members found a woman parked outside the yard crying,” said van Staad.
“She alleged that her husband had been murdered and his white Nissan Navara bakkie stolen.
“She was attended to by paramedics.
“On further investigation, the body of a lifeless male was found covered with a green plastic cloth.
“The body had multiple injuries on the head and upper body.
“Paramedics certified him dead on the scene.”
In addition to the vehicle, garden tools, a lawnmower, compressor, generator, cellphone, house keys and other items were stolen.
No arrests have been made in connection with this case.
Ken was a people person
A familiar face in the town, Ken Appelcryn was born and raised in Brakpan.
He lived in Minnebron and in addition to being the owner of a security company, he was also a private detective, assessor, moderator, pastor and marriage officer.
Ken was also the head of Goodnews Ministries South Africa since 1999.
“My dad loved going on holiday with his family and grandbabies, as he called them. He loved water slides and playing mini-golf,” said Ken’s daughter Lee-Anne Knouwds (25).
“Dad grew up in Brakpan and he made it his life mission to ensure that it would be a crime-free safe environment for him, his family and all who lived in and around it.
“Dad believed in team work and was a people person. He would be involved with anyone who gave him the opportunity to do so.”
Ken is survived by his wife Dianne (51), with whom he would have celebrated 31 years of marriage in November, son Matthew (27), Lee-Anne, son-in-law Hendrik (29), would-be daughter-in-law Shinice (27) and grandchildren
Haileigh (4) and Emily (18 months).
His funeral service was scheduled to be held on Wednesday at the Front Line People Church in Minnebron.
