Mercia arrested, 8th suspect in brutal Mooinooi murder case

Mooinooi – Two Mooinooi women, Joey (32) and Anisha van Niekerk (30),  had been reported missing on Sunday, 10 December.

The couple were supposed to go to  Pretoria to make funeral arrangements after Joey’s father passed away. 

A band of seven, six men and one female, were arrested after Joey and Anisha were brutally tortured and killed in a shipping container. The police are yet to reveal in which way the seven were involved. 
The burned out shell of their vehicle was found on Saturday, 16 December in the Magaliesburg area. The police reacted by launching an investigation and in a short space of time seven suspects have been placed under arrest. 

“Belongings of the two women were found in the possession of the suspects, including their bank cards,” says warrant officer Mpeile Talane, police spokesperson.  

The motives for the double murder are thought to stem from a dispute over a property transaction of a small farm in Mooinooi, close to Rustenburg. 

Investigations first lead the Brits police to Majakaneng, where three suspects were arrested, says cluster commander of Brits, major general Modisagarekwe Mosimanegape. 

According to brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, the seven arrested suspects are:  Koos Strydom (53), Vincent Strydom (29), Maruschka Opperman (18), Aaron Sithole (23), Alex Mudua (36), Moses Rakubu (33) and a male who claims to be a minor. 

They appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 5 January, facing charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and defeating the course of justice. The case was postponed to Wednesday, 10 January, and again to Monday, 15 January. 

“An eighth suspect, Mercia Witney van Rooi (21), was later arrested in connection with the murder,” says Talane. The family issued a reward of R5000 in order to locate Mercia. The case was again postponed to 18 and 19 January. 

“Burned human remains were found in bushes along the R104 near Buffelsfontein and have been sent for DNA testing to determine the identity of the remains. We suspect the remains are those of the two missing women,” says brigadier Mokgwabone. Investigations continue. 

We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Joey and Anisha.