The body of Mr Okkert de Meillon (47) from Bethal who was on the run from the police for months, has been found in Swaziland.
Mr John de Meillon told the Ridge Times that his youngest brother died on 16 January.
The family only received the news yesterday, 1 April.
“I was told that Okkert was living off the veld at the time. He killed himself during an encounter with the Swaziland Police.”
Mr John de Meillon was informed of a letter left behind for Melanie, Okkert’s ex-wife and the mother of his daughter.
A nationwide manhunt was on for Mr Okkert de Meillon when he did not adhere to his bail conditions nor appeared in court on 5 September last year.
Mr Okkert de Meillon was arrested in Bethal on Tuesday, 21 July in connection with the possession of explosive components, illegal firearms and ammunition.
Among the load of things the police confiscated at Mr De Meillon’s rental home in Louis Trichardt Street, Bethal, were more than 300 bullets of various calibres, 76 detonators, copper and silver pipes of different sizes, nail gun blanks and a variety of chemicals which are typically used in the manufacturing of explosives.
The confiscated chemicals included mercury, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide and aluminium powder.
The mysterious circumstances around the death of Ms Rehane Potgieter (55) from Piet Retief on 27 June, prompted the police to obtain a warrant to search Mr De Meillon’s premises.
Ms Potgieter and her husband, Hendry, were visiting their daughter, Ms Rehanie Nienaber, when she died on 27 June.
Ms Nienaber was engaged to Mr De Meillon at the time.
Mr De Meillon was granted bail of R10 000 on condition that he handed in his passport and reported to the nearest police station once a week.
The case was postponed to 3 September, but Mr De Meillon never showed up for court.
The police called a nationwide manhunt and tracked him to Richards Bay and Kosi Bay but he was not caught.
According to Mr John de Meillon, the Swaziland Police reached out to a detective at Piet Retief in their quest to identify a man who committed suicide in their country.
“The fingerprints search in South Africa revealed that it was a fugitive wanted by the Bethal Police.”
Mr De Meillon will travel to Swaziland next week where he will meet up with the investigating officer and identify his brother’s body.
“I also have to consult the embassy to make arrangements to bring Okkert’s body home,” he said.
Mr John de Meillon said Okkert loved his daughter dearly.
He said Okkert had a good heart, but he made wrong friends and poor choices in life.
“He went to prison for murder when he was only 21 years old. He was in jail for 13 years. Now, exactly 13 years after his release, he died.”
Mr Okkert de Meillon was convicted of murder and armed robbery when he and other members of a right-wing movement stormed the Devon Radar complex, an air force base on 23 April 1994.
A policeman, Sgt Steven Frederich Terblanche, was shot dead in the attack.
The others were also convicted on the same charges.
Const Thomas Mogadime, spokesman for Bethal Police Station, said the police will issue a statement in due time.
