Man tells Vanderbijlpark court Nigerian drug lords forced him to murder his family

Nigerian and Lebanese druglords forced Fanie du Preez to kill his wife and two teenage children when he refused to deliver drugs for them, the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday. 

He shot his 17-year-old daughter six times, he fired three shots at his son while his wife had two bullet wounds to the head.

The investigating officer's affidavit was read out in court, and in it, the officer says that Du Preez told him the druglords held him at gunpoint, gave him a gun and forced him to kill his family. 

Du Preez told the officer that his daughter Carlia tried to stop him and pleaded "Nee, Pappa, nee" (No, daddy, no), and that's why she was shot through her hand.

She was awake when he killed her.

His wife Thea, 43, had two gunshot wounds to the head, and his son Phillip, 14, had one. Two shots that he allegedly fired at Phillip missed, while the third hit him in the head. 

When the officer later asked him why he did not go to the police when he was threatened by "druglords", Du Preez said he did not trust the police. 

According to the investigating officer, Du Preez showed no emotion or remorse for his murdered family during the investigation. 

Du Preez's lawyer, Francois de Kock read out the father's affidavit about his version of events.

De Kock told the court his client did not believe the State had a strong case against him and intended pleading not guilty to the murders.

Du Preez said he had initially told police he thought there was a robbery at his home, as that was what he thought it looked like.

He later gave police his full cooperation, he said.

De Kock told the court that Du Preez was not a flight risk because he did not have a passport and had no family outside of South Africa. He would not harm any citizens, he said.

Du Preez wanted to be released on bail because he was mourning the loss of his family and "no constructive mourning can be done while in prison," he said in Afrikaans.

He told the court he had no previous cases against him and was unemployed.

The court heard that Du Preez and his wife Thea had separate bank accounts and that he needed to be released on bail in order to deal with his wife's estate.

Du Preez said he would be able to afford R20,000 bail. He could manage another R20,000 if needed, he said.

The State argued that having Du Preez out on bail would not be in the interests of the community.

Source: News24