The Krugersdorp Killers

Family and neighbours stand trial for
deaths of church members and

professionals
16 April 2018 - 07:33 By Tanya Steenkamp
Erstwhile church friends, from left, Cecilia Steyn, Zak Valentine and Marinda Steyn who
have been charged with multiple murders including that of Mikeila Valentine, right.
Image: SUPPLIED
The alleged “Krugersdorp killers”‚ a group of six accused of carrying out 11 vicious murders‚
will stand trial in the high court in Johannesburg today[Monday].
The accused are Cecilia Steyn‚ her friend Marinda Steyn and her two children Marcel and
Leroux Steyn‚ and Zak Valentine.
The group is charged with murdering 11 people from 2012 to 2016‚ robbery‚ aggravated
assault‚ possession of an unlicensed firearm‚ fraud and identity theft.
The murders are believed to have started when Cecilia Steyn‚ a self-proclaimed child
psychologist‚ had a fall out with the pastor of the Overcomers Through Christ church.
In July 2012‚ church member and lawyer Natacha Burger had her throat slit in her
neighbour’s home. The neighbour‚ Joyce Boonzaaier‚ was also killed in the same way. Police
believe the killers forced Boonzaaier to lure Burger to her house so that they could kill her.
The following month‚ Pastor Reginald Bendixen was stabbed and hacked to death with an
axe at his home in Honeydew‚ western Johannesburg.
Valentine’s wife‚ 25-year-old Mikeila‚ was killed in October 2012 in their home in Ruimsig‚
Roodepoort‚ apparently because she refused to support the alleged murderous revenge plot
carried out by her husband and other breakaway members of the church. Police said her blood
and intestines were splattered on the ceiling.
It is alleged that the four murders emboldened Valentine and his accomplices. They are
alleged to have committed seven more murders in the Krugersdorp area‚ mostly for money.
Investigating officer Ben Booysen said the accused all have the tattoo Electus per Deus
(Chosen by God).
“They don’t speak about God‚ they talk about ‘our’ god‚ but at this stage I don’t know who
their god is‚” said Booysen.
The Steyn family are among five people on trial in Krugersdorp on Gauteng's West Rand for
alleged involvement in the killings of church members as well as professionals lured to their
death.
Image: Sunday Times
John Barnard‚ a 40-year-old printmaker‚ got involved with the group shortly after the initial
murders and joined them in their alleged killing spree of the seven others.
Barnard confessed last year and was sentenced to 30 years in jail with 10 suspended on
condition that he testify against the other accused.
In November 2015‚ he said the group targeted his long-time employers Peter and Joan
Meyer‚ because he thought they kept millions of rand in cash in safe at their home in
Noordheuwel‚ Krugersdorp.
He said that when they realised there was no money‚ Valentine “lost it” and stabbed the
couple.
The failed robbery then allegedly sparked a new plan to fake Valentine’s death so that they
could claim a life insurance payout. Cecilia Steyn was the sole beneficiary of Valentine’s
policy.
Barnard testified that he‚ Valentine and Leroux Steyn befriended Jarrod Jackson‚ who lived
on the street. Valentine invited Jackson on a trip to the Free State in December 2015. On the
way‚ they strangled him‚ put him in the driver’s seat and set the car on fire‚ according to
Barnard.
They then claimed that the dead man was Valentine and applied for the policy payout. When
the insurance company suspected foul play and refused to pay out‚ the group allegedly
changed their modus operandi.
In January 2016‚ the group made an appointment with tax consultant Glen McGregor at his
smallholding in Randfontein‚ near Krugersdorp. There they allegedly forced him to transfer
money into Marinda Steyn’s account and then shot him in the stomach.
Insurance brokers Anthony Scholefield and Kevin McAlpine and estate agent Hanlé Lategan
were allegedly approached in a similar way.
A police source said: “They made appointments with all these people at Key West shopping
centre in Krugersdorp‚ among other places. Then they would phone them and say something
like their car had broken down and ask if they could meet at the local hospital.”
“Once there‚ they would lure them into Marinda’s flat‚ which is opposite the hospital‚ tie
them up and murder them.” The bodies were then dumped.
The case is expected to last till June 29.

TIMELINE OF DEATH
2012:
July 26: Natacha Burger‚ 33‚ and her neighbour Joyce Boonzaaier‚ 68‚ had their throats slit
in Centurion. The bodies were found in Boonzaaier’s home.
August 14: Pastor Reginald Bendixen‚ 75‚ was stabbed and hacked to death at his home in
Honeydew.
October 11: Mikeila Valentine‚ 25‚ was stabbed to death in the home she shared with her
husband‚ Zak Valentine.
2015:
November 27: Peter Meyer‚ 51‚ and his wife Joan‚ 47‚ were stabbed to death at their home in
Rudd Street‚ Noordheuwel.
December 6: Jarrod Jackson‚ 44‚ was burnt to death in a car in Petrus Steyn in the Free State.
2016:
January 27: Glen McGregor‚ 57‚ was shot on his smallholding in Randfontein.
May 10: Anthony Scholefield‚ 64‚ was strangled to death. His body was found in the boot of
his car‚ which was abandoned on Premier Street in Krugersdorp. His belongings were stolen
and R9 600 was withdrawn from his bank account.
May 26: The body of Kevin McAlpine‚ 29‚ was found in the boot of his car on the corner of
Sivewright and Francis streets in Krugersdorp. He was robbed of his wedding ring‚ laptop‚
shoes‚ watch and R1 300 in cash. He had been married to 26-year-old Kezia for a year and
she was six months pregnant.
May 31: The body of Hanlé Lategan‚ 52‚ was discovered in the veld along the Randfontein
River on a farm in Elandsvlei. Her cell phone‚ gold and diamond ring‚ watch and R3 000 in
cash was stolen. Her car was found in front of the Krugersdorp Private Hospital.
IN THE DOCK ARE:
Cecilia Steyn‚ 35
The alleged ringleader of the group. Self-proclaimed psychologist. Long history of problems‚
according to her parents.
Zak Valentine‚ 32
Soft-spoken and well-liked. An insurance broker. Graduated from North-West University

cum laude.
Marinda Steyn‚ 50
High school teacher and well liked by colleagues. Close friend of Cecilia Steyn (not related).
Accused of hiding ammunition in her classroom.
Marcel Steyn‚ 19
Introvert. Refused to be photographed. Straight A student who loves reading. Devoutly loyal
to her mother‚ Marinda Steyn.
Leroux Steyn‚ 21
Feels “safe” in jail. Shows no emotion but loves his mother Marinda Steyn very much.
John Barnard‚ 40
Confessed‚ tried separately and sentenced to 30 years’ jail‚ 10 of which were suspended on
condition that he testify against the other accused. Worked for the Meyers for many years.
#KrugersdorpMurders trial date confirmed
– don’t miss it
11 murders, identity theft, fraud and even aggravated assault – these are the charges facing
the Steyns and Zak Valentine.
April 11, 2018
The accused, from left: Zak Valentine, Cecilia, Marinda, Leroux and Marcel Steyn. Photo:
Bianca Pindral.
The Steyns (Marcel, Leroux, Marinda and Cecilia), together with Zak Valentine, who are
accused of murdering 11 people over the course of four years, will be appearing in the
Johannesburg High Court on Monday, 16 April in Courtroom 2F.
This will mark the first day of their trial which is expected to last until 29 June. They are also
facing additional charges of racketeering, aggravated assault, being in possession of an
unlicensed firearm, committing fraud and identity theft.
A timeline of the 11 murders the court charged the accused with. Image: Bianca Pindral
Valentine’s wife Micheala is believed to be the youngest of the victims as she was only 25
years old when her body was found, whereas Pastor Reginald Bendixen was the oldest at 75.
The victims had various occupations, ranging from a property agent to an accountant, a
hawker and a pastor.
Krugersdorp #TripleMurder suspects
appear in Johannesburg High Court today
The community has vowed that they will not forget the seven lives that were lost in the
accused’s alleged killing spree during 2016
May 5, 2017
The accused, from left: Zak Valentine, Cecilia, Marinda, Leroux and Marcel Steyn. Photo:
Bianca Pindral.
The five suspects accused of murdering seven people over the span of six months during
2016 will appear in front of the Magistrate in the Johannesburg High Court for the first time
in four months today, 5 May.
The #TripleMurder case, involving the accused Marcel, Cecilia, Marinda and Leroux Steyn
and the Zak Valentine fraud case were centralised and moved for trial to the Palm Ridge High
Court during their previous appearance on 27 January.
Also read: Magistrate scolds triple murder accused
The five stand accused on seven counts of murder. Their victims were Peter and Joan Meyer,
Jarred Jackson, Glen McGregor, Anthony Scholefield, Kevin McAlpine and Hanle Lategan.
Together with the murder charges, they also face charges of robbery with aggravated assault,
being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, committing fraud and identity theft.
Since their first appearances, all the accused have been denied bail and have caused
considerable trouble for the magistrates. Marcel Steyn, the youngest accused, refused to let
police take her picture during the identification process, leading the magistrate to scold her,
saying that the police are allowed to use a reasonable amount of force to get the accused to
pose for photos.
2. Marcel Steyn, one of the accused in the Krugersdorp Triple Murder case, smiled at those
attending the proceedings when she and her brother Leroux Steyn appeared in the
Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court for a postponement and centralisation hearing.
Photo: Bianca Pindral
Then, later on in their appearances, Marinda Steyn claimed that her visitation rights had been
taken away, which meant she no longer had access to luxuries such as toilet paper. The
investigating officer told the News that her visitation rights were cancelled because her only
visitor, Dries Steyn (who is Cecilia’s husband), had carried messages between the various
accused persons.
One of the accused, John Anthony Barnard, has already pleaded guilty and turned state
witness during the group’s last appearance. He will serve a 20-year sentence.
3. One of the accused in the Krugersdorp triple murder case, John Anthony Barnard, pleaded
guilty to eight of the charges against him in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court. Photo:
Bianca Pindral
In more recent news, the West Rand Cluster Police have launched a manhunt for a man
whom they believe could assist them with more information about the murders. Although this
hasn’t been confirmed by the police, they released an ID kit picture to enable the public to
assist with finding him.
Triple murder accused now charged with 11

murders
Four more murders that occurred in 2012 have been added to the accused’s list of charges –
one of the victims being Valentine’s young wife.
December 4, 2017
A timeline of the 11 murders the court charged the accused with. Image: Bianca Pindral
Committing 11 murders over four years — this is how many believed the Steyn family spent
most of their time.
Marcel, Cecilia, Marinda and Leroux Steyn, together with Zak Valentine, better known as the
Triple Murder accused, were initially thought to have committed only three murders and
were, again, initially just charged with those three.
However, the murder charges kept piling up, appearance after appearance in both the
Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court and now the Johannesburg High Court.
The first victims in Krugersdorp were Hanlé Lategan, Kevin McAlpine, and Anthony
Scholefield.
Then the court added four more murders to their charges – the deaths of the Noordheuwel
couple, Peter and Joan Meyer, Glen McGregor and Jarrod Jackson.
Now, added to the seven, are four more murders including Valentine’s wife Michaela,
Natacha Burger, Joyce Boonzaaier, and Pastor Reginald Bendixen.
Valentine’s wife was only 25 years old when her body was found, and is believed to be the
youngest of the victims, whereas Bendixen was the oldest at 75.
The victims had various occupations, ranging from a property agent and an accountant to a
hawker and a pastor.
Other charges, including racketeering, aggravated assault, being in possession of an

unlicensed firearm, committing fraud and identity theft were also brought against them.
The trial date is set for 18 April 2018 in Court Room 2F at the Johannesburg High Court.
1. The man wanted by the police. He may have information about last year’s Krugersdorp
Triple Murders.
#KrugersdorpMurders – two accused might
sign a plea bargain soon
The five accused of murdering 11 people in Krugersdorp appeared in court on Monday. The case
might take a dramatic turn in the near future.
April 17, 2018
The Steyns – Marcel, Cecilia (not related), Marinda and Leroux, with John Barnard (blue
shirt) who later signed a plea bargain. Photo: Bianca Pindral.
The five accused of murdering 11 people over the course of four years appeared in the
Johannesburg High Court on Monday, 16 April in front of Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, but
the official start of the #KrugersdorpMurders trial was postponed, mainly because Zak
Valentine’s lawyer did not show up.
The accused are Marinda, Cecilia, LeRoux and Marcel Steyn, and Zak Valentine.
Another reason for the postponement was that two of the accused might possibly agree to a
plea bargain. It’s not yet clear which of the accused will plea. The case was postponed until
Wednesday, 2 May.
Early on in the case, John Barnard, who was one of the original accused, agreed to a plea
bargain and got a reduced sentence. One of the terms he agreed to is to testify against the
other five accused during the trial.
Some interesting facts from the previous court appearances:
• John Anthony Barnard, 40, pleaded guilty to eight of the charges against him in the Palm
Ridge Magistrates’ Court in Johannesburg on 14 December 2016, after he allegedly entered
into a plea bargain with the State. He was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment with a 10-
year suspended sentence.
Read here: Triple murder accused pleads guilty
• Marcel Steyn was still under the age of 18 when she was arrested but has since come of age
and will stand trial as an adult.
• Cases were opened in the Roodepoort, Krugersdorp and Tarlton Police Stations and efforts
to centralise the cases took longer than expected. Before the cases were centralised to the
Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court, Marcel and LeRoux appeared before the Roodepoort
Magistrates’ Court where it was heard that Marcel had refused to let the police take pictures
of her. The State requested the Magistrate to explain section 37 of the Criminal Procedure
Act 51 of 1977 to her. The Magistrate made reference to a previous case, in which a man
refused to have surgery to remove a bullet from his leg because of alleged religious beliefs.
The Magistrate continued, saying that the man was taken to hospital and the bullet was
removed as it was part of evidence. Before leaving the courtroom, the two accused looked
back at the gallery and smiled at the family and friends of the victims.
• Marinda Steyn claimed that her visitation rights had been taken away, which meant she no
longer had access to luxuries such as toilet paper. The investigating officer told the News that
her visitation rights were cancelled because her only visitor, Dries Steyn (who is Cecilia’s
husband), had carried messages between the various accused persons.
• Marinda also complained that she was denied her basic human rights because she was not
given toilet paper while in prison. This statement drew the response, “Ag, shame” from
relatives of the victims seated in the gallery. The Magistrate told her that prison was not a
five-star hotel.
Timeline of Murders
• The first victims in Krugersdorp were Kevin McAlpine, Hanlé Lategan and Anthony
Scholefield.
• Then the court added four more murders to their charges – the deaths of the Noordheuwel
couple, Peter and Joan Meyer, Glen McGregor and Jarrod Jackson.
• Four more murders were then added to the charge sheet, namely the deaths of Valentine’s
wife Michaela, Natacha Burger, Joyce Boonzaaier and Pastor Reginald Bendixen.
• 26 July 2012: Joyce Boonzaaier (68) and Natacha Burger (31) were found murdered in
Centurion. Both had stab wounds. Reports say their throats were also slit, however this needs
to be confirmed by the court during the trial.
• 14 August 2012: Pastor Reginald Bendixen (75) was found murdered in Honeydew. He
also had stab wounds and was believed to have been hacked to death. This also needs to be
confirmed by the court during the trial.
• 11 October 2012: Micheala Valentine (25) was found murdered in her home. She was
stabbed to death.
• 27 November 2015: Peter and Joan Meyer were found murdered in their Noordheuwel
home. They were stabbed to death.
• 16 December 2015: Jarrod Jackson was found murdered in the Free State. It’s alleged that
Cecilia and Marinda faked Zak Valentine’s death by drugging and placing Jackson, who was
a beggar, in Valentine’s vehicle and setting it alight. The body was burnt beyond recognition
and for some time police believed it was indeed Valentine. The two women tried to claim
against Valentine’s life insurance policy worth more than R3 million after his ‘death’, but
failed.
• January 2016: Glen McGregor (57) was found murdered in Randfontein. He was an
accountant from Krugersdorp, and was shot and killed.
• 10 May 2016: Anthony Scholefield (64) as found murdered in Krugersdorp. He was

strangled to death and dumped in the back of his own car which was parked in Krugersdorp.
He was robbed before his death and more than R9 000 was withdrawn from his bank account.
• 26 May 2016: Kevin McAlpine (29) was found murdered in Krugersdorp. He was found in
the boot of his car and all his belongings were stolen. His wife was pregnant with their first
child when his body was found.
• 30 May 2016: Hanlé Lategan (52) was found in Randfontein, murdered. She was a property
agent and money was withdrawn from her bank account and stolen before her death. Some of
her belongings were also stolen.
Three murders in three weeks; first Anthony Scholefield (bottom left), then Kevin McAlpine
(top left) and then Hanle Lategan.
Marinda to hear her fate shortly
In court this morning, it was made known that Marinda and Leroux Steyn will be signing plea
bargains.
The Steyns from left are Marinda, Cecilia, Marcel and Leroux with Zak Valentine in court this
morning. Photo: Bianca Pindral.
Just in: The court has decided to let Marinda Steyn, mother of Leroux and Marcel, hear her
fate today after she signed a plea bargain.
Leroux also signed a plea bargain earlier this morning and was subsequently sentenced to 25
years’ imprisonment.
News journalist Bianca Pindral is reporting live from the courtroom to keep readers informed.
The trial of the five accused of crimes that shook Krugersdorp has finally started in the South
Gauteng: Johannesburg High Court this morning.
The Steyns – mother Marinda and her children, Leroux and Marcel, plus the unrelated Cecilia
Steyn and Zak Valentine, were seated in front of a full courtroom, with News journalist,
Bianca Pindral, reporting live.
Marinda Steyn has signed a plea bargain deal.
The five are accused of murdering 11 people in four years and their killing spree has been
hotly debated on various national and international media outlets.
During earlier appearances, the court heard that two of the accused would be signing a plea
bargain.
In court this morning, it was made known that mother and son, Marinda and Leroux, will be
signing plea bargain deals. The court has heard a request for their trial to be separated from
the rest. The request was granted, resulting in the matter being postponed to 8 October for
Cecelia and Marcel Steyn, and Zak Valentine.
Leroux Steyn signed a plea bargain deal and was subsequently sentenced.
Le Roux Steyn has accepted a plea agreement and has been sentenced to 25 years’
imprisonment. He left the courtroom in tears.
Court has been postponed to tomorrow, 17 May, when Marinda Steyn will appear for her plea
bargain and sentencing.
Mother Marinda sentenced
She wanted to be found guilty on account of her admissions.
Marinda Steyn has been sentenced and will spend the rest of her life behind bars.
In a dramatic turn of events, the South Gauteng: Johannesburg High Court decided to let
Marinda Steyn, mother of Marcel and Leroux, hear her fate today after she signed a plea
bargain earlier this morning.
Her son Leroux also signed a plea bargain and Judge Lamont sentenced him to 25 years’
imprisonment. He left the courtroom in tears.
Initially it was decided to postpone the rest of the proceedings until tomorrow, but the court
asked for a short recess, whereafter Marinda was asked to take the stand, this time alone.
Marinda admitted to charges of racketeering, murder, robbery, accessory after the fact of
murder, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. She said she understood
the charges and admitted to all of them. She wanted to be found guilty on account of her
admissions.
“One has choices and one must bear the consequences,” Marinda said when asked about her
sentencing.
Marinda was sentenced to 11 life sentences and 115 years’ imprisonment, all to run
concurrently. She will spend the rest of her life behind bars.
#KrugersdorpMurders: Interesting facts
about serial killers Marinda, Leroux and
Marcel
A school teacher, a top matric student and a son who will never see each other again?
May 17, 2018
The Steyns from left are Marinda, Cecilia, Marcel and Leroux with Zak Valentine in court this
morning. Photo: Bianca Pindral.
The sentencing of two of the five accused of murdering 11 people – better known as the
#KrugersdorpMurders brought some new facts about the Steyn family – mother Marinda,
daughter Marcel and her son Leroux – to light.
Marinda and Leroux were sentenced yesterday, 16 May, in the South Gauteng: Johannesburg
High Court after signing plea bargains.
Here are some of the facts:

• Marinda Steyn (51)
Marinda Steyn, the woman convicted of murdering 11 people.

Photo: Bianca Pindral.
During court proceedings, many referred to Marinda’s uncanny resemblance to Daisy de

Melker, the first woman to be hanged in South Africa for murdering her two husbands and
her son.
Marinda was a teacher at Hoërskool Jan de Klerk and had ammunition stashed in her
classroom. She was described by one of the learners as “That weird teacher who always kept
to herself. She used to stay in her classroom during breaks and often kept the doors closed.”
She received a 390-year sentence after signing a plea bargain with the State. Marinda will
serve her time in the Johannesburg South Prison and will most likely never see her children
again. She was convicted of 11 murders (25 years for each) and 115 years for all other crimes
she committed which included fraud, racketeering and managing an enterprise, illegal
possession of ammunition and firearms, defeating the ends of justice, robbery, and accessory
after the fact of murder.
At her sentencing appearance, Judge Lamont asked her if she had understood the claims
against her and the consequences of her actions. Her emotionless reply was: “One has choices
and you need to bear the consequences.”
She also mocked photographers and said, “What will you do if I stick out my tongue?”
• Leroux Steyn (22)
Leroux Steyn was convicted of seven murders, but will serve only 35 years with 10 of them
suspended, as he signed a plea bargain with the State.
He was sentenced to 35 years immediate imprisonment with a 10-year suspended sentence.
He will most likely never see his mother or sister or the rest of the group again. He would
have served a 373 year sentence if he had not signed a plea bargain. Many who attended the
court proceedings commented that his sentence was too light, believing that he played a big
part in the murders.
He was convicted of seven murders for which he would have received seven life sentences
(175 years), burglary with aggravating circumstances (75 years), illegal possession of a
firearm (eight years), illegal possession of ammunition (three years), racketeering (three
years), conspiracy to murder (15 years), fraud (15 years), credit card fraud (three years), and
defeating the ends of justice (one year).
It’s believed he will serve his time in Kroonstad Prison because the Johannesburg Prison is
too full to accommodate him.
• Marcel Steyn (19)
Marcel Steyn was only 14 years old when the first murder was committed.
Marcel Steyn was just 14 years old when the first murder was committed. There was no
conclusive evidence that she had ever killed any one of the victims, however, it is speculated
that she accompanied her mother, Marinda, on her murder spree.
She matriculated from Hoërskool Monument and achieved six distinctions. By the time she
graduated high school, the group had already allegedly committed the 11 murders. If she
signs a plea bargain with the State, she will receive more or less the same sentence as her
brother, Leroux, because she was still a minor when many of these crimes were committed.
The remaining three accused: Marcel Steyn, Cecilia Steyn and Zak Valentine, still have time
to sign plea bargains with the State before their trial starts on 8 October.
Krugersdorp killers: Trial postponed to

Tuesday
2018-10-08 16:10
Canny Maphanga
The alleged Krugersdorp killers. (Canny Maphanga, News24)
The trial of alleged Krugersdorp killers Cecilia Steyn, 35, Zak Valentine, 32, and Marcel
Steyn, 20, has been postponed to Tuesday.
The matter was scheduled to begin in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on
Monday.
The postponement is due to Marcel's lawyer's intent to make submissions regarding clarity on
provisions of the Child Justice Act, as the accused was a minor when the crimes took place.
The trio, who have not yet pleaded, are facing charges of murder, robbery with aggravating
circumstances, fraud and intimidation.
Presiding Judge Ellem Jacob Francis told the court that he "hopes that matter will be finalised
within the 40-day period set".
The accused will remain in custody.
Background
The three were a part of five so-called Krugersdorp killers dubbed "Electus per Deus"
(Chosen by God) who allegedly committed 11 murders between 2012 and 2016.
The five alleged killers – Cecilia, Valentine, Marinda Steyn and her children Le Roux and
Marcel – were nabbed for various crimes around the Krugersdorp area.
Former teacher Marinda was sentenced in May to 11 life sentences and 115 years'
imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently.
Le Roux, who is a State witness, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in May.
Both had entered plea bargains with the State.
According to the indictment, the murders began when alleged mastermind Cecilia, who was a
friend of Marinda, had a fallout with pastor Ria Grunewald of the Overcomers Through
Christ church (OTC), and allegedly recruited the four other accused to intimidate Grunewald.
"Grunewald was the leader of a group called OTC who focused on delivering people from
satanic bondage. One of the group's focus points was also to provide training to its members,"
the indictment reads.
Killing spree
The group began with petty crimes. The first murder took place in 2012 when a member of
the OTC church, Natacha Burger, was killed while she was visiting a neighbour. Valentine
and Cecilia have been charged with the crime.
A month later another church member, Pastor Reginald Bendixen, was found dead in his
Honeydew home.
In October 2012, Valentine's wife, Mikeila Valentine, was murdered after she allegedly
expressed her uneasiness with the actions of the group.
In November 2015, 51-year-old Peter Meyer and 47-year-old Joan Meyer were allegedly
killed by the accused.
The State previously alleged that in 2013, "the group incited three men to murder the son of
Grunewald, Joshua", according to IOL.
By the year 2015 the group began targeting wealthy families and allegedly committing
robbery and insurance fraud.
Krugersdorp killers strangled most victims

to death
10 October 2018 - 15:40 By Iavan Pijoos
Le Roux Steyn testifies in the South Gauteng High Court, in Johannesburg, in the case of the
Krugersdorp murders on October 10 2018.
Image: Iavan Pijoos
State witness in the Krugersdorp murder trial Le Roux Steyn told the South Gauteng High
Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday that most of the victims were strangled to death.
Le Roux was testifying in the trial of Cecilia Steyn‚ 37‚ Zak Valentine‚ 33‚ and Marcel
Steyn‚ 20‚ who pleaded not guilty to 32 counts‚ including murder‚ robbery with aggravating
circumstances‚ fraud and intimidation.
Former high school teacher Marinda Steyn‚ 51‚ was sentenced to 11 life terms for the
Krugersdorp murder spree.
Le Roux was also part of the group‚ but entered into a plea bargain with the state in May. He
was sentenced to 35 years in prison for each of the seven counts of murder he was convicted
of.
Ten years of his sentence were suspended on condition that he testify in the trial.
They were part of the Electus Per Deus (Chosen by God) group. The group is accused of
murdering 11 people between 2012 and 2016.
Most of the murders were orchestrated in a similar fashion.
Many of the victims were financial advisers and estate agents‚ were lured to 17 Cosanna, a
flat in Krugersdorp, where Marinda Steyn lived.
In most cases‚ they were strangled to death by Le Roux.
Their first victim was Glen McGregor‚ who was approached by Marinda under the false
pretence that she needed assistance with a tax matter. Marinda‚ Le Roux and John Barnard
met him at his home in Avalonia near Krugersdorp.
During the meeting Marinda shot McGregor. He was still alive and was forced to provide his
banking details. They made an electronic transfer of R6‚000 from his account to a Capitec
account of Marinda.
Le Roux said he met their second victim‚ Anthony Scholefield‚ at the Key West Mall in
Krugersdorp.
Scholefield was also lured to 17 Cosanna. On his arrival‚ Marinda pointed a firearm at him
and instructed him to lie down.
Le Roux said he tied his hands and feet with a rope. Scholefield was also forced to provide
his banking details.
"My mother [Marinda] told me that it was now time to strangle him. I strangled him."
They then dropped his car with his body near a primary school in Krugersdorp. The key was
left in the ignition. Le Roux said he walked to Krugersdorp West and maxed the bank cards at
Delta Spar.
He said he returned the following day and withdrew money at ATMs and also bought himself
and Cecilia jackets‚ earphones‚ cigarettes‚ and cool drinks.
"I bought her a red jacket. She [Cecilia] was wearing the jacket to court a couple of times."
An amount of R16‚600 was withdrawn using Scholefield's various bank cards.
Just like Scholefield‚ financial broker Kevin McAlpine and Remax estate agent Christina
Lategan were also lured to the flat and forced to hand over their banking details.
They withdrew R1‚300 from McAlpine wife's bank account. An amount of R3‚000 was
withdrawn from the bank account of Lategan.
Both McAlpine and Lategan were strangled to death by Le Roux.
McAlpine's body was wrapped in black plastic bags‚ put into a Pikitup dustbin and loaded in
the back of his car. Le Roux said they left his car in an area in Krugersdorp which was known
for drugs and prostitution.
"Finding the car in an area like that was easier."
Lategan's body was wrapped in a red blanket‚ put in Marinda's Hyundai i10 and dumped near
the Randfontein cemetery.
Le Roux was able to identify several firearms placed before him by the state. He said one of
them was used to shoot McGregor.
Earlier‚ Le Roux told the court how they murdered Barnard's employer‚ Peter Meyer‚ and his
wife back in 2015. Meyer lived in Pretoria. The group tied him up with cable ties and asked
for money and valuables.
Le Roux said the man said he had no money. Le Roux said Valentine stabbed both Meyer and
his wife‚ they took off the cable ties and left the scene with R600. Le Roux also confessed to
murdering a homeless man‚ Jarod Jackson‚ to fake the death of Valentine to claim his
Discovery life policy.
In December 2016‚ 42-year-old Barnard was sentenced to 20 years in jail after he pleaded
guilty to 13 charges‚ including murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. He will
also be a state witness.
'We killed a homeless man to fake Zak
Valentine's death' - Krugersdorp witness
testifies
10 October 2018 - 12:28 By Iavan Pijoos
One of the state witnesses in the case of the Krugersdorp murders on Wednesday explained in
detail to the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg how they murdered a homeless man
to fake the death of one of the accused.
Le Roux Steyn was testifying in the trial of Cecilia Steyn‚ 37‚ Zak Valentine‚ 33‚ and his
sister Marcel Steyn‚ 20‚ who have pleaded not guilty to 32 counts‚ including murder‚ robbery
with aggravating circumstances‚ fraud and intimidation.
The younger Steyn's mother‚ former high school teacher Marinda Steyn‚ 51‚ was earlier this
year sentenced to 11 life terms for the Krugersdorp murder spree.
Le Roux entered into a plea bargain with the State in May. He was sentenced to 35 years in
prison for each of the seven counts of murder he was convicted of. Ten years of his sentence
were suspended on condition that he testifies in the trial.
They were part of the so-called Electus Per Deus (Chosen by God) group. The group is
accused of murdering 11 people between 2012 and 2016.
The group had run low on money at that stage.
"The plan was to find someone who looked like Zak‚ the same size and built like him‚ then
kill him and wait for the policy to pay out‚" Le Roux told the court.
During his first hour of testimony he spoke fast and fluently. He sat calmly in the dock with
his legs and hands chained. His testimony left the courtroom gallery shaken. Some broke into
tears and had to be comforted by friends.
On December 16 2015 they found a homeless man who lived in Cecilia's storeroom. They
had known the man for a few months.
Late that afternoon‚ the group agreed to use him for the murder.
"We prepared a juice for him with crushed tablets. Cecilia and I prepared it‚ she had a box
full of tablets and we crushed about 20 pills in the juice‚" Le Roux said.
They drove in two cars towards the Free State. He said they made a booking for Valentine at
the town of Petrus Steyn in the Free State to make it seem like he went on holiday.
Le Roux sat behind the man because he had to strangle him with a piece of rope. They gave
the man the juice when they reached Randfontein. Halfway through the trip‚ the man started
becoming drowsy.
"I sat directly behind the passenger seat‚ put my legs up and strangled him for quite a while."
They pulled off at a side road‚ put the man in the driver's seat and threw paraffin over the car
before setting it alight.
They then left the scene and made their way back to Krugersdorp.
A few days later they drove back to Petrus Steyn to identify the body. Valentine was declared
dead.
Meanwhile‚ Valentine stayed under the name of Jacques at Die Herberg Hotel in
Krugersdorp while Steyn made arrangements with Discovery for his life policy to pay out.
"I told them [Discovery] that I worked for Zak and he used to be a good friend of mine."
After he was declared dead‚ the group went to his house to fetch all his valuables from his
home.
Le Roux also told the court how he made a fake identification book for Valentine.
#KrugersdorpMurders – trial starts with

son Le Roux’s disturbing testimonial
Leroux Steyn is testifying about the role each of the accused played in what is considered the
crime of the century.
Cecilia Steyn (middel) with Marcel Steyn (right), Marinda Steyn (middle) and Zak Valentine (left)
during their appearance in May.
The trial of the remaining three accused of the #KrugersdorpMurders, Cecilia Steyn, 37, Zak
Valentine, 34, and Marcel Steyn, 20, continued in the South Gauteng High Court in
Johannesburg on Tuesday, with things taking an ugly turn as the story unfolded.
The three are accused of murdering 11 people between 2012 and 2016. Mother and son
Marinda, 52, and Le Roux Steyn, 22, were sentenced in May after signing a plea deal with
the State, with Le Roux turning state witness in the trial of the remaining three.
Le Roux was convicted of seven counts of murder and was sentenced to 35 years, of which
ten years were suspended on condition that he testify.
The case of the remaining three was postponed on Monday, 8 October to the next day,
because Marcel’s lawyer wanted to obtain clarity on provisions of the Child Justice Act 75 of
2008, as amended, since Marcel was still a minor when the crimes took place.
The three are facing charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, fraud and
intimidation and on Tuesday, 9 October they all pleaded not guilty.
According to a reliable source at the court, Le Roux testified on Tuesday that Cecilia was the
‘leader’ of their ministry called ‘Electus per Deus’ which means ‘Chosen by God’.
She started the group after she joined the Overcomers Through Christ (OTC), where Ria
Grunewald was a leader.
Le Roux testified that Cecilia told them she was a 42nd generation witch and joined the OTC
group to break away from her Satanic ties. Le Roux, Marcel (his sister) and their mother
Marinda later joined the OTC group as well. The three of them moved to be closer to Cecilia
who lived in a flat in Krugersdorp. She was apparently ill and they had to look after her.
According to him, Grunewald also moved in with Cecilia to look after her and protect her
from ‘Satanic attacks’. There was conflict between Cecilia and Grunewald, so Cecilia
decided to leave OTC and start the Chosen by God ministries.
According to Le Roux, Cecilia instructed them to plant home-made bombs under the cars
belonging to Grunewald and other OTC members. She wanted their property destroyed. After
successfully destroying their property, they boasted about how proud they were of what they
had done.
Cecilia was however convinced that Natacha Burger, 33, also a member of the OTC, was
praying against the children of the OTC and the group was instructed to follow her for a few
days. Le Roux was tasked with stealing number plates that would give Zak Valentine and his
wife access to Burger’s complex unit. Zak and his wife, Mikeila, then went to one of
Burger’s friends, Joyce Boonzaaier, who would arrange for Burger to come over. The
Valentines stabbed Burger to death and then killed Boonzaaier, because she witnessed the
murder.
Zak Valentine. Photos: Bianca Pindral.
After the two murders, Mikeila told the group that she did not want to be part of it anymore.
Cecilia did not like this and the group started planning her murder.
Zak fed his wife sleeping pills and Marcel and Marinda were sent to kill her. They hit her
over the head with a blunt instrument and stabbed her to death.
Le Roux said that Pastor Reg Bendixen, a friend of Grunewald, sometimes appeared as a
guest speaker for the OTC. Cecilia perceived him as a threat to the Chosen By God ministries
and Marinda and Zak, dressed as police officers, attacked him with an axe and knives.
The trial continues, with Le Roux testifying for the rest of the week. Next week, John
Anthony Barnard, another member of the group, will take the stand. Barnard has already
pleaded guilty and turned state witness. In his testimony next week, the court will hear what
role he played in the murders. He is serving a 20-year sentence.
In May this year, Marinda received a 390-year sentence after signing a plea deal with the
State. She will serve her time in the Johannesburg South Prison and will most likely never see
her children again. She was convicted of 11 murders (25 years for each) and 115 years for all
the other crimes she committed, which included fraud, racketeering and managing an
enterprise, illegal possession of ammunition and firearms, defeating the ends of justice,
robbery, and accessory after the fact of murder.
#KrugersdorpMurders Day 2 – Le Roux’s
testimony more shocking than first day
Court hears how the victims were lured, robbed, killed and dumped – for money.
October 11, 2018
Le Roux Steyn during his appearance in May. File pic.
Day 2 of Le Roux Steyn’s testimony proved to be just as shocking as the first day.
He started by explaining how Jarrod Jackson was murdered (in December 2015) in the Free
State. He was given a cocktail that would make him drowsy. On the way to the Free State, he
was strangled. His body was put into the driver’s seat of the car, which was then set on fire
and the group returned home in a second car.
The body was burnt beyond recognition and the group later identified it as that of Zak
Valentine. According to Le Roux, they tried to collect on a life insurance policy for
Valentine, but did not succeed, sparking Cecilia Steyn (not related to the other Steyns) to start
with her murderous spree.
Trail Day 1:
According to yesterday’s court proceedings, most of the victims were lured to 17 Cosanna
Flats under false pretenses. Three of them were strangled and some of them were held until
their bank details could be verified by either drawing money or doing a transfer.
Glen McGregor (murdered in January 2016) was asked to help Le Roux’s mother, Marinda,
with a tax problem. He was shot and killed in his home.
Anthony Schofield (murdered 10 May 2016) was lured to the flat where he was tied up and
had to provide his bank details. After the group got what they needed, they strangled him and
dumped him in the back of his car, which they then left in Krugersdorp.
Kevin McAlpine (murdered 26 May 2016) was also lured to the flat, under the impression
that he was going to meet a client. He too had to provide his bank details and was strangled.
His body was put in the back of his car and left in a dodgy area of Krugersdorp where it
would not draw too much attention when it was found.
Hanlé Lategan (murdered on 30 May 2016) was told that she was meeting a client who
wanted to purchase property. She was robbed and strangled as well. The group could not
dispose of her body in her own car however, as she was driving a branded company car. She
was then loaded into Marinda’s Hyundai i10 and left near the Randfontein cemetery.
#KrugersdorpMurders — Cross
examination of Le Roux – was Cecilia’s
group even a real ministry?
According to Cecilia there was never an ‘Electus Per Deus’ ministry, they were just a group
of friends.
October 16, 2018
Le Roux’s first day of cross-examination in the #KrugersdorpMurders started on Thursday

last week, and according to News24, he alleged that Cecilia was the mastermind of their
group and that she was the only one who gained financially from their string of crimes.
According to him, they all believed the money they were getting was going toward helping
ex-Satanists. He said that Zak Valentine had contributed largely to their ministry and it was
because of these contributions that they could keep going.
Le Roux said he believed that Valentine was also under the impression that they were helping
ex-Satanists.
Trail Day 1:
According to the news source, advocate Amanda Nel (for Valentine) asked Le Roux what
Valentine gained by being part of the ministry. Le Roux said that neither Valentine nor any of
the other members gained anything and they were all just working for Cecilia.
When asked why he then remained part of the group, he explained that there was no way out.
Le Roux told the court how his mother made him believe that his father did not want
anything to do with him and that he had nowhere to go if he left. He claimed that he was
threatened that he would end up like Mikeila if he tried to leave.
Trial Day 2:
Le Roux later reconnected with his biological father. According to Le Roux, the ministry
initially did not like this because they wanted their members to be isolated. They changed
their minds however, when they thought Le Roux’s father could be their next victim.
On Friday, the trial continued with Cecilia Steyn’s lawyer, Advocate Andre Coetzer, telling
the court that his client claims there was never an Electus Per Deus ministry. According to
her, the members were just a group of friends.
While cross examining Le Roux, Coetzer asked how Le Roux knew that he was part of an
actual ministry. He explained that the group members who got the tattoo did so voluntarily.
News24 reports that Coetzer tried to prove that without formal praise and worship or any
other elements, the group did not constitute as a ministry. Le Roux told the court that they
would gather and read the Bible and pray. He said it wasn’t formal, but they did gather.
Le Roux claimed that although there were no written rules, there were unwritten rules. They
were for instance not allowed to have friends outside the ministry.
Although Cecilia denied that they used drugs, Le Roux claimed that his first line of cocaine
was with Cecilia.
This week, another state witness, John Barnard, will also take the stand.
Interesting yet disturbing info about the

#KrugersdorpMurders trial so far
The Krugersdorp killers’ trial is still ongoing and here is what happened so far.
October 24, 2018
Cecilia Steyn (left) with Marcel Steyn (middle), Zak Valentine (right) during their appearance in May.
The trial of the remaining three accused of the #KrugersdorpMurders is currently being held
in the South Gauteng High Court.
Marcel Steyn, 20, Zak Valentine, 34, and Cecilia Steyn, 37, have all pleaded not guilty on 11
counts of murder. Marinda Steyn, her son Le Roux and John Barnard have already been
sentenced after pleading guilty. Le Roux and John negotiated a plea bargain and have
testified for the State.
This is a round-up of what has transpired so far.
• Le Roux Steyn’s testimony:
Le Roux Steyn, 22, was the first State witness to testify during the trial. He started his
testimony by describing how Cecilia, the leader of the group, started her own church, which
she named Electus per Deus, which means ‘chosen by God’ after she and Ria Grunewald
from Overcomers Trough Christ (OTC) had a fallout.
Cecilia joined OTC because she claimed to be a witch who wanted to be delivered from
Satanism. Cecilia and Ria were not seeing eye to eye and Cecilia had members of the group
destroy OTC members’ property with homemade bombs.
Cecilia then had the group kill Natasha Burger and Joy Boonzaaier. Cecilia believed that
Natasha’s prayers were meant to harm children. The group convinced Boonzaaier to meet
with Burger and then the group (Zak and Mikeila Valentine and Marinda Steyn) killed
Burger. Boonzaaier was killed because she witnessed the murder.
When Valentine’s wife, Mikeila, expressed her concern about the group’s activities, she also
was killed.
Next to be killed were pastor Reg Bendixen and Jarrod Jackson – Bendixen because Cecilia
did not like him and Jackson to fake Valentine’s death.
The group killed their other victims after by making ‘work-related’ appointments with them.
They threaten them with various weapons to get their bank card PINs and then kill them once
they had the information they wanted.
Le Roux testified that he became part of the group because his mother (Marinda Steyn) was
involved. He was led to believe that his father did not love him anymore and that there was
nowhere for him to go, should he try to run away. He said Cecilia took all the money they
stole from their victims and the rest of the group never saw a cent.
According to Cecilia’s lawyer the group was never a ministry but only a group of friends. But
Le Roux testified that they were led to believe that they were helping people who wanted to
be delivered from Satanism. He said that they used to meet in Cecilia’s flat and pray together.
Marcel, Le Roux’s sister, denied involvement in the murders that were committed from 2012
to 2016, and denied verifying the victims’ PINs before they were killed. Le Roux
contradicted her version of the events.
He said he and his sister used to have a very close relationship and even exchanged letters
after they were arrested. That stopped over time as they grew further apart.
He blamed Cecilia for what had happened to his family and said he felt anger towards her.
• John Barnard’s testimony:
Barnard, who testified next, said he joined the group in November 2015 after telling Cecilia
about Peter and Joan Meyer, his employers. Barnard believed he was not being remunerated
fairly and that the Meyers were rich.
The group killed the Meyers in their home in Noordheuwel, but could only get R600 from
them.
John told the court that he was living with Marinda and Le Roux at the time of the murders
and that he and Marcel were told to make as much noise in his room as possible by playing
loud music to deafen the victim’s cries for help while they were being assaulted in another
room.
They would then go into the room where the victims were held, take their bank cards to the
ATM, test their PINs and phone Marinda when the PIN was correct.
Le Roux testified it was his job to strangle the victims, after which the group would dispose
of the bodies.
• A friend of Valentine’s testimony:
One of Valentine’s friends, who cannot be named, testified in court that he did not trust the
police as one of the investigators was a regular at Cecilia’s house. The man was living with
Valentine when some of the murders occurred. Cecilia’s husband was a warrant officer in the
police, according to Le Roux’s testimony.
Valentine’s friend testified that Colonel Hennie de Jager, head of the police’s Occult Unit
asked him to record the group admitting to the murders. Although he said he could not trust
De Jager he still went ahead and recorded the confessions.
He allegedly told the group that Grunewald’s son, Joshua, had invited them to a braai. Cecilia
told him to attend the braai and make friends with Joshua.
He was supposed to ask Joshua to help him fetch beer from the car, stab him in the neck and
load him into the boot of the car.
Cecilia told the man that one of her friends needed Joshua’s kidneys to survive and that was
why they wanted to kill him.
After recording the conversation the man went home, packed his belongings and fled. He said
he hid from them for six months because he was afraid. After running away he was fired from
his job because his employer told him that Valentine kept driving past his workplace and he
felt the man was a threat to his business. The man said he was unable to buy a car or open a
bank account because out of the blue he was blacklisted for not paying a cellphone account.
He admitted to knowing about some of the murders but that there was nothing he could do as
Valentine was looking for him.
• The testimonies of Peter and Joan Meyer’s children
Nina Scott-Dawkins, 33, testified that her parents never conducted business at home, but
made an exception as Peter was trying to open a water park in KwaZulu-Natal and thought
the meeting would be about funding.
She testified that her mother had told her when she first met the group, her hair stood on end.
Scott-Dawkins said Marinda had promised to release funds for the project at a later stage but
that she needed R1 million as prepayment for paperwork and to put her son through school.
Meyer didn’t like the idea because that was not the way he did business.
The Meyer’s son, Nicholas, 25, testified that on one occasion when Marinda, Marcel and
Valentine showed up, he was at home. They said they had a meeting with Meyer but he
wasn’t home at the time and asked to reschedule. Nicholas said Marinda did not look like the
government official she pretended to be.
The evening of the murders Nicholas went out. When he came home he saw all the lights
were on and he went in to look for his parents. His girlfriend at the time found their bodies in
the living room.
• Linda Bendixen’s testimony:
According to Linda Bendixen, 69, wife of pastor Reg, she had financial difficulties and
became depressed after her husband was murdered. She told the court that she had to sell
their house because they did not have a pension plan or life insurance.
She testified that a few days before Reg was murdered he received a call from a young man
who expressed interest in his church. He agreed to meet the man at a coffee shop in the
Northgate Shopping Centre.
Linda said she went to work on the day of the meeting. She tried phoning her husband
throughout the day but could not reach him. When she came home she saw him lying on the
grass. She tried to pick him up but realised his injuries were serious and phoned her son.
• Joshua Grunewald’s testimony:
He said he and his mother are estranged and haven’t seen each other since 2012. He said in
2012 he received weird calls about jobs and that he saw a man with a helmet walk up and
down his street, although he did not see a bike.
In 2013 the police phoned him to tell him that his life could be in danger and he was being
followed.
He told the court how he met with someone from Discovery and was under the impression
the man’s name was Mark. When the police showed him a photo of one of the people
following him, he identified the person as the man he knew as Mark. In actual fact it was Zak
Valentine.
• A good friend of Cecilia’s testimony:
Another witness, who can not be named, was a good friend of Cecilia’s and lived with her
from time to time. She said Cecilia had multiple personalities and one of those was a little girl
called Anja. When Cecilia allowed Anja to surface, she and the woman would play together
and sometimes colour in.
Other personalities were named Akeesha and Lilly. On certain significant nights on the
Satanic calendar Cecilia lied down and closed her eyes. On those nights they all met at
Grunewald’s home to pray for Cecilia.
According to the witness they believed that her soul left her body and went into another
spiritual realm. She then would spit up blood.
After Cecilia and Grunewald had become estranged the witness was told to stay away from
Cecilia and that she was bad news. She however continued her friendship with Cecilia and
with the rest of the group.
Cecilia started asking the witness questions about Burger’s comings and goings. The
questions later became more specific, according to the witness.
The witness testified that although she was convinced the group killed Burger, Cecilia told
her that it was a Satanic church that did not like the way Burger was praying. According to
the witness, Mikeila lost a lot of weight before she was murdered. The woman said after
Mikeila’s murder she became scared but could not go to her family as they had lost contact.
• Karen Luitingh’s testimony:
She told the court that she met Cecilia through OTC and after being baptised, Cecilia told her
that all the demons had left her. She could see this by the light that shone above her head. She
got together with a church group for lectures and prayers. After one such meeting her car was
bombed. She later received threatening messages from an unknown number.
Krugersdorp killings: 'I put my oiled hands

between her thighs to prevent demons
raping her'
14 November 2018 - 15:23 By nomahlubi jordaan
The alleged 'Krugersdorp killers' - Marcel Steyn, mother of two Cecilia Steyn and former
insurance broker Zak Valentine - in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg in
October 2018. Marcel's mother Marinda and brother Le Roux are already serving lengthy jail
terms for the killings.
Image: Iavan Pijoos
An obsession with satanism by followers of two fringe religious organisations on the West
Rand is taking centre stage in the Krugersdorp murder trial in the South Gauteng High Court.
The current state witness, Ria Grunewald, was a leader of the Overcomers Through Christ
(OTC) group and had a close relationship with prime suspect Cecilia Steyn, a wife and
mother of two - until they had a falling out.
Steyn broke away from OTC to form the Electus Per Deus (Chosen by God) group. The
state's case is that she roped neighbours and friends into the group, who then allegedly
murdered 11 people between 2012 and 2016 in a dual quest, first for revenge and then for
cash.
On Wednesday, Grunewald testified that she had treated Steyn like a daughter and had tried
to help the troubled woman.
The two were then part of the OTC group. Grunewald taught Bible courses titled "Know your
enemy", and "Know your saviour". She said she hardly ever went to her own place and spent
little time with her children because she was taking care of Steyn.
Steyn, she said, had claimed to have matriculated at 14 and boasted that she had three
qualifications. "We were told that she was a qualified pastor and that she had done an LLB,"
said Grunewald. Steyn was also "known to have a qualification in psychiatry", she added.
Grunewald told the court that she believed every story Steyn told her and everyone else.
According to Grunewald, Steyn claimed to have been tortured and abused by her father who
was part of a cult.
He would hang her over a lion's cage, according to one of Steyn's claims. "She would go into
a fit if we were watching a TV programme and they showed lions attacking people. I would
pray for her."
She said at one stage, Steyn had turned into a "baby" and started crying.
"She had bought me perfume and she told me that I have to wear it to smell like 'Elise'. When
she cried, I hugged her. She then said [in a child's voice] 'mommy, why are you shape
shifting?'"
Grunewald explained to court that shape shifting is when a person changes into another
person.
The "baby" that Cecilia had apparently turned into, did not recognise Grunewald because she
did not look like her mother "Elise".
The "baby" then bit her own arms. "She said she had to offer me her blood for hugging her.
The strange thing is that there were two teeth marks on the vein in her arm," said Grunewald.
The court also heard that Steyn wanted Grunewald to be with her most of the time because
she suffered from spiritual attacks.
Steyn suffered the attacks mostly on "high nights" when, according to Grunewald, sacrifices
were taking place.
The group had to gather at Steyn's flat to protect her from satanists. "I would instruct people
to pray. We would try our best to keep her in her body," Grunewald said.
During the spiritual attacks, Steyn's spirit would be taken by satanists at a ritual site and put
in someone else's body. "Through her movements, we could tell what was going on. Once she
stretched her arms out and I saw marks on her wrists, then I knew she was crucified,"
Grunewald claimed.
"The demons would rape her and I had to keep my oiled hands between her thighs to prevent
the demons from raping her."
To prevent her eyes being gouged out by the demons, Grunewald would put her oiled hands
over her eyes.
When the attacks were over, Cecilia would be in a lot of pain, Grunewald said.
Krugersdorp killings: Murder accused
Cecilia Steyn was a 'reformed satanist'
25 October 2018 - 08:14 By Naledi Shange
Church friends, from left, Cecilia Steyn, Zak Valentine and Marinda Steyn who have been
charged with seven murders including that of Mikeila Valentine, right
Image: Supplied
When hairstylist Sanmarie Volbrecht was introduced to Cecilia Steyn‚ one of the three people
now implicated in a series of killings that occurred in the Krugersdorp area‚ she was told that
Cecilia was a reformed satanist‚ the High Court in Johannesburg heard.
Taking to the stand on Wednesday afternoon‚ Volbrecht said she had attended a course titled
"Know your enemy" when she was casually introduced to Cecilia.
"I was told she was part of a satanic church and that she wanted to break free and serve Jesus
Christ‚" Volbrecht told the court.
Cecilia's lawyer‚ however‚ told the court that his client intended to dispute this version‚
saying she has never been part of a satanic church.
Volbrecht had been invited to the classes by one of her clients and had decided to join her on
her weekly bible courses.
When attending a midweek meeting at the house of Annamarie Scholtz‚ one of the
congregants‚ she was called outside to switch off the lights of her car‚ which usually turned
themselves off.
As she and Scholtz walked to her vehicle‚ they were met by a strong smell of petrol around
the vehicles‚ which were parked in the yard.
"We went to check‚ smelt petrol and walked around the garden to see where the smell came
from‚" Volbrecht told the court.
The two prayed and Scholtz returned inside the house to find a flashlight‚ leaving Volbrecht
alone.
"I heard something in the garden and saw three people jump over the wall. They were about
my height … They were adults‚" Volbrecht said.
"They were dressed in all black‚ with hoodies and gloves. I screamed and yelled and the rest
of the people in the house came out‚" Volbrecht said‚ adding that she did not see their faces.
She and other congregants searched the yard and found sticks and containers of petrol around
the yard. Scholtz had on Wednesday testified that she and other congregants felt victorious
that they had managed to thwart the attackers' plans. Volbrecht was the first to leave the
meeting that day.
"I went to the garage with my mother-in-law to get her car rinsed of petrol because the petrol
had also been thrown inside the car through the window‚" said Volbrecht.
They were dressed in all black‚ with hoodies and gloves. I screamed and yelled and the rest
of the people in the house came out.
Sanmarie Volbrecht
She missed the following week's meeting‚ where the attackers returned and followed through
on their plans. Scholtz had testified that as they sat under the lapa for their meeting‚ they
heard several loud blasts‚ which made her house shake like jello. Several of the congregants'
vehicles were damaged.
"Two weeks after that‚ the first murder [of a congregant] happened‚ so we scattered‚" said
Volbrecht.
The member who was killed was 33-year-old Natacha Burger. She and her neighbour Joyce
Boonzaaier‚ 68‚ had their throats slit in Centurion. Their bodies were found in Boonzaaier's
home.
Volbrecht said she had known Burger only from the meetings. Following her murder‚ she
received threatening messages.
"One of them said: 'Who will be next‚ the traveler‚ the stylist or cycler‚'" she told the court.
She said she also received an email‚ instructing her that her daughter's car seat was not safe‚
along with a picture of her daughter in the seat.
"I feared for my own life and my family's life too‚" she said.
Volbrecht then left the church.
The accused in this matter are Cecilia‚ 37‚ Zac Valentine‚ 33‚ and Marcel Steyn‚ 20.
The accused have pleaded not guilty to 32 counts‚ including murder‚ robbery with
aggravating circumstances and fraud. Marcel's mother – former high school teacher Marinda
Steyn‚ a friend of Cecilia's – was sentenced to 11 life terms for the Krugersdorp murder
spree‚ after entering into a plea agreement.
Marinda's son Le Roux Steyn is serving an effective 25-year prison term and has testified
against the three remaining accused in the dock.
Krugersdorp murders: House was ‘moving

like jello’ after blasts‚ witness tells court
Despite finding their vehicles doused in petrol during a mid-week gathering‚ members of the
Overcomers Through Christ church in Krugersdorp were 'overjoyed' because they believed
they had stopped the attackers from carrying out their plans‚ a former member of the church
told the High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
"We felt joyous at that point. We felt victorious that we had stopped that attack. The general
feeling of the night was that we were victorious‚" said Annamarie Scholtz‚ who added that
following this‚ they all went inside her home and had coffee.
She was testifying in the trial of Cecilia Steyn‚ 37‚ Zac Valentine‚ 33‚ and Marcel Steyn‚ 20,
who are believed to have been behind this attack and 11 murders which occurred in the
Krugersdorp area.
aggravating circumstances and fraud.
Marcel’s mother - former high school teacher Marinda Steyn‚ a friend of Cecelia’s - was
sentenced to 11 life terms for the Krugersdorp murder spree‚ after entering into a plea
agreement.
Marinda’s son‚ Le Roux Steyn‚ is serving an effective 25-year prison term and has testified
Scholtz told the court that she and her husband had opened up their home for the Wednesday
meetings after two congregants were attacked outside the apartment of Ria Grunewald‚ who
had introduced her to the church.
On July 4‚ during their second meeting at her home‚ she noticed something odd in the
driveway where the other congregants had parked their cars.
One of the church members‚ Sanmarie Volbrecht‚ had left her lights on. She claimed to have
informed her of this but Volbrecht said the lights would automatically switch themselves off.
A short while later‚ however‚ she noticed that the lights were still on. Both women decided to
walk to the car to check.
"I could smell petrol‚" Scholtz testified. "I said [to Volbrecht] that either it was a leakage or
someone had just filled up [their petrol tank]. As we walked to her car‚ the smell was
stronger. I started walking towards the car to see if I could see anything suspicious. She
started to pray and I prayed as well‚" Scholtz said.
She decided to turn back to the house to go and search for a flashlight‚ leaving Volbrecht
behind.
"[Volbrecht] started to scream and the other members ran towards her. She said she had seen
people jump out of the yard‚" Scholtz said.
The members searched the cars and found that several of their cars had been doused in petrol.
The next week however‚ the attackers returned and this time‚ they managed to carry out their
acts.
Scholtz said before the meeting had started‚ she and the other church members had decided to
do a prayer walk around her yard.
"We sealed [the house] off and asked for angels to protect the house. We did the prayer walk
and settled in the lapa. There were no other children that night so I had my child with me‚"
said Scholtz.
Shortly after they had started their meeting‚ they heard a series of explosions.
"I was sitting on the edge of lapa and I heard the bombs. I looked at the house and I saw it
was moving like jello‚" she said.
The blasts were so loud that they were heard across the neighbourhood and left several of the
congregants’ vehicles damaged.
When the last of the damaged cars were removed‚ Scholtz said she cleaned up the area‚
filling the craters in her yard with soil.
She had found cans and nails around the yard where the bombs had exploded.
Scholtz said after this incident she and her husband had decided to leave the ministry.
Besides the bomb‚ Scholtz said she had received threats via sms and BBM messages which
had left her traumatised.
"I told Ria that I am withdrawing from the ministry for the sake of our well-being and my
child. I told her our house would no longer be available and I did not attend any further
meetings after that‚" she said.
Krugersdorp murders: 'There was
darkness over my child' - Mikeila's mom
24 October 2018 - 12:42 By Nomahlubi Jordaan
Mikeila Valentine‚ the late wife of one of the people accused of the Krugersdorp murders‚
left the Rhema Bible College when she joined Overcomers Through Christ because she was
told Rhema was controlled by Satanists.
Valentine‚ 25‚ a travel agent‚ was killed in a stabbing frenzy at her Ruimsig‚ Johannesburg‚
home in October 2012.
Her husband‚ former insurance broker Zak Valentine‚ 33‚ along with Cecilia Steyn‚ 37 -
believed to be the leader of a sect that was formed after a split in the Overcomers group - and
Marcel Steyn‚ 20‚ are accused of murdering 11 people from 2012 to 2016‚ as well as
robbery‚ aggravated assault‚ racketeering‚ possession of an unlicensed firearm‚ fraud and
identity theft. Three other people are serving lengthy jail sentences in connection with the
killing spree‚ including Marcel’s mother and brother.
Mikeila's mother Ilse van Dyk told the South Gauteng High Court on Wednesday that her
daughter had been studying ministry at the Rhema Bible College when she met Zak.
After joining Overcomers Through Christ‚ Mikeila told her mother that she was going to
abandon her studies.
"She said she was going to leave her studies because Rhema Bible College was controlled by
Satanists‚" Van Dyk said.
She said she then noticed a change in her daughter's spiritual and physical makeup after the
Overcomers Through Christ grouping split.
"There was a cloud of darkness. She couldn't think straight. She said stupid things like
Cecilia told her she was dirty because of her past.
"She was just regressing. One day she was shaving her hair‚ the other day she was dying it
blonde. It's like there was a battle inside her‚" said an emotional Van Dyk.
She said Mikeila only sought help at the end when she wanted to leave the group.
"I was telling her that those people were lying to them. She only sought my advice right at the
end‚ just before her death."
Zak‚ according to Van Dyk‚ was a good husband and son-in-law who took care of her
daughter financially.
Their financial situation‚ however‚ changed when Mikeila told Van Dyk that they gave all
their money to Cecilia‚ who claimed she would give it to an orphanage.
Van Dyk said she had visited Overcomers Through Christ from time to time because she
found nothing wrong with their teachings.
"The changes started after the split [in the Overcomers group]. That's when Mikeila and Zak
started getting tattoos and that's when there was darkness over my child."
She said Mikeila and Zak thought they were doing "good" things for God when they were in
the ministry‚ which was headed by Cecilia.
But‚ she said‚ "Mikeila was not spontaneous anymore. She was not laughing."
She said a week before she died‚ Mikeila visited her.
"She asked if I know any lawyer(s) because people who had left the ministry were dying. She
said ‘I'm going to leave the ministry’. She said there was something wrong there."
A week before her death‚ Mikeila was crying a lot and she seemed confused‚ her mother said.
"It's like she had realised she had done something wrong. She was adamant in her decision
[that she wanted to leave Cecilia's ministry]."
She said she last saw her daughter on a Sunday when she and Zak had joined her for lunch.
"When I saw her that Sunday‚ there was light again over her. When she came up the stairs‚
she was so beautiful. It was like the Mikeila I knew‚" Van Dyk said‚ breaking down in tears.
When she visited Mikeila and Zak's house after she had been found dead‚ Van Dyk said the
latter was "absent minded" and "unemotional".
She said she asked Zak if her daughter was a Satanist and he said no.
Mikeila had written Bible verses on the walls of the house she and Zak lived in‚ prior to her
death‚ Van Dyk said.
The emotional mother told the court that her daughter's death had left a gaping hole in her
heart.
"As a parent‚ you are not meant to lose your child in such a horrific way.
"It's like your heart got pulled out of your chest by force.
"If she had died in an accident or of natural causes‚ it would have been easy. It's wrong that
her life was taken‚" said Van Dyk‚ breaking down.
‘Ria Grunewald is dead. I lost everything’:
Witness in Krugersdorp killings case tells
how her life fell apart
15 November 2018 - 13:30 By Nomahlubi jordaan
Zac Valentine, Cecilia Steyn and Marcel Steyn appear in court for the Krugersdorp murders on
November 15 2018.
Image: Nomahlubi Jordaan
Ria Grunewald told the South Gauteng High Court that she was ostracised by her family and
friends because of her association with murder accused and self-proclaimed ex-satanist
Cecilia Steyn.
“Ria Grunewald is dead. I lost everything,” said an emotional Grunewald when asked what
had become of her life after she had cut ties with Cecilia.
“I never saw or heard from my children. They don’t want to hear from me. I’ve never spoken
to them again.”
She is testifying this week in the trial of housewife Cecilia Steyn, neighbour’s daughter
Marcel Steyn and former insurance broker Zac Valentine.
The Krugersdorp neighbours and friends stand accused of involvement in the murder of 11
people from 2012 to 2016. The trio have pleaded not guilty. Three other people are serving
lengthy jail terms in connection with the killing spree, including Marcel’s mother, Marinda
Steyn.
Grunewald told the court that she had cut ties with Cecilia after she had become wary of her.
But when she distanced herself from Cecilia, she was shunned by everyone.
Cecilia, had, according Grunewald, turned everyone against her.
Grunewald said she started getting death threats and people close to her started dying.
She was not able to get a job because no one trusted her because of her association with
Cecilia, she said.
Her plans to travel to Israel were thwarted when her passport disappeared from her flat,
Grunewald said. She was later told it was found in a safe Cecilia kept in her bedroom.
“My name was dragged through the mud. A website was created which painted me badly,”
said an emotional Grunewald.
She said the website had created an impression that she was not a person to be trusted or even
dated.
“I couldn’t find a job. The lady who gave me a place to stay kept telling me to look for a
job.”
She said the police refused to take her calls when she received threatening messages.
She had no one to turn to.
The first victims in the accused’s alleged killing spree were linked to the OTC church:
Natacha Burger, 33, and her neighbour Joyce Boonzaaier‚ 68‚ who had their throats slit in
Centurion in July 2012. Then 75-year-old pastor Reginald Bendixen who was stabbed and
hacked to death with an axe at his home in Honeydew in August 2012.
“I died when they died,” Grunewald said referring to the people who died after she broke
away from Cecilia.
Asked what would liberate her, Grunewald said: “God will liberate me. He took me through
this, he will get me through it.”
The trial continues.
Background to the Krugersdorp murders
After their arrests, police signalled they believed the initial killings were sparked by a split in
a church group called Overcomers Through Christ (OTC). The group’s aim was converting
satanists to Christianity. Cecilia and her friends formed the Electus Per Deus (Chosen by
God) group after the split.
Cecilia lived on the ground floor of the block of flats with her husband and two children,
while Marinda lived on the top floor with her two children and John Barnard.
The killings are alleged to have started when Cecilia had a fallout with the pastor of the OTC
church.
One of the victims was the wife of accused Zac Valentine, a former insurance broker.
Mikeila‚ 25, was killed in October 2012 in their home in Ruimsig‚ Roodepoort‚ apparently
because she refused to support the alleged revenge plot carried out by her husband and other
breakaway members of the church.
Timeline of death
2012 — July 26: Natacha Burger‚ 33‚ and her neighbour Joyce Boonzaaier‚ 68‚ had their
throats slit in Centurion. The bodies were found in Boonzaaier’s home.
August 14: Pastor Reginald Bendixen‚ 75‚ was stabbed and hacked to death at his home in
Honeydew.
October 11: Mikeila Valentine‚ 25‚ was stabbed to death in the home she shared with her
husband‚ Zak.
2015 — November 27: Peter Meyer‚ 51‚ and his wife Joan‚ 47‚ were stabbed to death at
their home in Rudd Street‚ Noordheuwel.
December 6: Jarrod Jackson‚ 44‚ was burnt to death in a car in Petrus Steyn in the Free
State.
2016 — January 27: Glen McGregor‚ 57‚ was shot on his smallholding in Randfontein.
May 10: Anthony Scholefield‚ 64‚ was strangled to death. His body was found in the boot of
his car‚ which was abandoned on Premier Street in Krugersdorp. His belongings were stolen
and R9‚600 was withdrawn from his bank account.
May 26: The body of Kevin McAlpine‚ 29‚ was found in the boot of his car on the corner of
Sivewright and Francis streets in Krugersdorp. He was robbed of his wedding ring‚ laptop‚
shoes‚ watch and R1‚300 in cash. He had been married to 26-year-old Kezia for a year and
she was six-months pregnant.
May 31: The body of Hanle Lategan‚ 52‚ was discovered in the veld along the Randfontein
River on a farm in Elandsvlei. Her cellphone‚ gold and diamond ring‚ watch and R3‚000 in
cash were stolen. Her car was found in front of the Krugersdorp Private Hospital.
Death threats and church murders:
Krugersdorp witness testifies
14 November 2018 - 17:12 By Nomahlubi Jordaan
"Wherever I go they fall like flies," is one of many threatening messages Ria Grunewald got
when she cut ties with Cecilia Steyn.
Grunewald was testifying on Wednesday in the trial of Cecilia Steyn, Marcel Steyn and
former insurance broker Zac Valentine. The Krugersdorp neighbours and friends stand
accused of involvement in the murder of 11 people from 2012 to 2016. The trio have pleaded
not guilty. Three other people are serving lengthy jail terms in connection with the killing
spree, including Marcel’s mother, Marinda Steyn.
The initial killings were allegedly sparked by a split in a church group called Overcomers
Through Christ (OTC). The group’s aim was converting satanists to Christianity. Cecilia and
her friends formed the Electus Per Deus (Chosen by God) group.
The first victims were linked to the OTC church: Natacha Burger, 33, and her neighbour
Joyce Boonzaaier‚ 68‚ had their throats slit in Centurion in July 2012. Then 75-year-old
pastor Reginald Bendixen was stabbed and hacked to death with an axe at his home in
Honeydew in August 2012.
On Wednesday, Grunewald told the South Gauteng High Court of the period preceding the
murders of the OTC church members, of becoming wary of Cecilia and of receiving
anonymous death threats.
She said she and Cecilia were extremely close when they were part of the OTC church, and
that she treated the other woman like a daughter.
“She knew everything about everything I did. I poured my life out to her,” said an emotional
Grunewald.
Despite spending most of her time at Cecilia’s flat and helping her, because Cecilia claimed
she was dying, Grunewald said Cecilia would ridicule her in front of other people.
"She told me how stupid I was and that I’m not worth being called a Christian. She said I’m a
pathetic Christian.
“She isolated us all from each other [other members of the group].”
Grunewald, who taught Bible courses with OTC, said she became worried when Cecilia
started drugging her and she would wake up disoriented and confused.
"I suffered from sleep deprivation so I asked her for sleeping pills. When I woke up I was
disoriented. I didn’t know what was happening."
She said she received a call from one of her students and they asked if she was okay because
she had called them at midnight.
"I told her I didn’t call her. I then noticed that I had called myself as well, from one phone to
the other."
She said one day she received a call from one of the OTC members telling her that she should
not trust Cecilia because she was a liar and was telling people that Grunewald had beaten her.
"I didn’t believe her. I phoned Marinda. I said to her 'Did Cecilia tell you that I beat her?' I
was very upset."
Subsequently, Grunewald said she told Cecilia that she wanted to give her "maternal rights"
in the group to Marinda.
"Cecilia said I can’t and that someone has to die for the hand over to happen."
Grunewald said she did not visit Cecilia as often as she used to and she did not invite her to a
question-and-answer session she had with her students who attended the courses she was
teaching.
"She was angry at me."
Grunewald said Cecilia also became angry when she did not go to a "high day" - when,
according to her, certain sacrifices were made.
"I received a call from Marinda saying that one of Cecilia’s death curses was triggered. I
decided to ignore the message."
When Cecilia’s death curses were triggered, Grunewald would pray for her so that she did not
die, the court heard. Cecilia was, however, alive the next day, despite her not going to her
apartment to pray for her, Grunewald said.
When she cut ties with Cecilia, Grunewald said she started getting death threats and people
close to her started dying.
“I received threatening messages daily. One of them said “I’m sitting in the house of the
stylist, the traveler, the cyclist ... Guess where I am?”.
Grunewald said she knew who those people were.
“Wherever I go, they are going to fall like flies,” another message said.
“On the 13th of August [2012] I got a message and it said: ‘I hope you said goodbye to Reg
[Pastor Reginald Bendixen] and if you want to talk about it, we are outside in a white
BMW’.”
“It sounded like they were outside my flat in a white BMW,” Grunewald said.
She said she called Bendixen but could not get hold of him. She then called his wife and told
her to tell him to be careful.
She later got a call saying that Bendixen had been murdered.
“This was not supposed to happen. Nobody deserved that. I felt so guilty and I felt terrible. I
felt responsible for his death. I asked why God did not let me die and not them,” Grunewald
wept.
“At that stage I had nobody in my life. There was nobody I could speak to. I couldn’t
understand how this could happen.”
Then she said: “I got a call from a police officer asking if me if I had set up an appointment
with Reg on the day he died.”
“I told him that I had set up an appointment two days before he died to tell him that we
should cancel the classes after Natacha [Burger] died.”
The police told her that, according to phone records, she had set up an appointment with
Bendixen on the day he died.
“I told him I did not see Reg on that day.”
The threatening smses were from an anonymous number. Grunewald said the police told her
that the person who sent them lived close to where she lived.
She told the court that she and Cecilia lived a block away from each other.
Prior to the trial, TimesLIVE reported that Cecilia Steyn lived on the ground floor of a block
of flats with her husband and two children, while her friend Marinda Steyn (no relation) lived
on the top floor with her two children and John Barnard.

claimed to be the 'bride of Satan'
Murder accused Cecilia Steyn convinced people around her that she was the most powerful
witch in the world – the bride of Satan.
Candice Rijavic, her former friend, made this and other startling claims in her testimony at
the South Gauteng High Court on Monday during the "Krugersdorp murders" trial.
Steyn, Zak Valentine and Marcel Steyn allegedly killed 11 people from 2012 to 2016 in an
alleged crime spree featuring robbery‚ aggravated assault‚ racketeering‚ possession of an
unlicensed firearm‚ fraud and identity theft. They have pleaded not guilty.
High school teacher Marinda Steyn‚ mother of Marcel‚ was in May sentenced to 11 life terms
for the Krugersdorp killings.
Rijavic said she met Cecilia Steyn in 2008 and they became inseparable best friends. "I heard
endless stories about her background. She said her birth was prophesied many years ago,"
said Rijavic.
Cecilia claimed to have been subjected to ritual abuse by her family, had become part of the
occult and had supernatural powers.
"She said she was the most powerful witch on the planet, that she could astral travel,
disappear and reappear.
"She said she could do things to people without touching them, she was known to be 'the
bride of Satan' and she went through training and she met Satan," Rijavic told the court.
Cecilia had claimed that her spirit could leave her body. "She was known to travel to the
moon. There were no limitations to where she could go."
Cecilia, the court heard, also had multiple personalities, the ability to turn into a baby or a
wolf and could hold her breath under water for an hour.
Rijavic testified that Cecilia controlled her life. She was forced to wear the same clothes as
Cecilia. If she wore something different, she was forced to change. "She controlled and stole
my identity to merge our personalities. I had to look exactly like her. I became attached to
her. I had undying loyalty and trust in her."
She described Cecilia as a "master" manipulator who lied about her health and claimed she
was dying. "I gave her money every day to buy medication. I found out later that she was
perfectly healthy."
Rijavic said she had spent thousands on Cecilia and once gave her R100,000. "All the money
she claimed was for medication, she spent it on motorcycles and drinking."
Cecilia, she said, had made friends believe that she needed constant watching because she
was dying. "I believed her story and I did not want anyone to hurt her."
Cecilia claimed to have had spiritual and physical attacks. She would vomit blood and
convulse when she got the attacks.
Rijavic said Cecilia had made people believe that she was actually vomiting blood when in
reality she had put small "balls of blood" in her mouth and was just acting. "She would drive
to a place where there is no one, draw blood from herself using a syringe, take the blood and
put it in cut plastic gloves. She would put the small balls in her mouth and fake a
convulsion."
Cecilia had also claimed to be a vampire confined to certain areas. "She had boundaries on
where she could go. We once drove beyond her boundaries and she faked an sms from her
father saying he was aware of what she did.
"She fooled people into believing that she could change [into someone or something] and she
could mind read."
Rijavic said Cecilia watched "exceptionally disturbing" satanic movies.
Cecilia hooked her friends up with "boyfriends" who they never met as they communicated
only via text messages. "She hooked me up with Wesley. We would only text." She and
"Wesley" dated for three years but never met in person, the court heard.
Cecilia, according to Rijavic, later claimed to have left satanism and converted to
Christianity. Yet she still performed satanic rituals.
Krugersdorp killers: 'Every cent I own, I

bequeath to Cecilia Steyn'
School teacher Marinda Steyn is serving multiple life terms for her involvement in a killing spree in
Krugersdorp. She was described by her headmaster as one of the school's best teachers. The trial of
three of her co-accused continues.
A school principal has told the High Court in Johannesburg how former teacher Marinda
Steyn had wanted to give all her assets to a friend - and had hidden live ammunition in an
oven in her classroom.
Steyn‚ 51‚ was sentenced in May to 11 life terms for the Krugersdorp murder spree.
Currently standing trial are her friend Cecilia Steyn‚ her daughter Marcel Steyn‚ 20‚ and Zak
Valentine. They are accused of murdering 11 people from 2012 to 2016‚ as well as robbery‚
aggravated assault‚ racketeering‚ possession of an unlicensed firearm‚ fraud and identity
theft. The three remaining accused have pleaded not guilty.
Johannes van Aardt, a principal at Jan de Klerk high school, told the court on Monday that
Marinda was appointed as an English teacher at the school in July 2015.
He said Marinda was allocated a a classroom that was previously used for home economics
and was equipped with ovens.
In July 2016, Marinda was arrested in connection with the Krugersdorp murders. A month
later, he said, the police visited the school as part of their investigation. "I accompanied the
police to Marinda's classroom, which was locked."
He said the police found bags of live ammunition in one of the ovens.
Van Aardt also told the court that before her arrest, Marinda had asked him to sign as a
witness in two documents. "She asked me sign a document in which she was giving the
power of attorney to Cecilia for all her affairs."
The other document was a will. Both documents were handwritten.
The power of attorney reads: "I hereby give Cecilia Steyn full power of attorney ... should I
be detained in any way, manner or capacity in jail/mental institution ... be kidnapped,
missing, or presumed dead ..."
In her will, Marinda bequeathed her entire estate to Cecilia. "Every cent and property that I
own and that will become available at my death, I bequeath to Cecilia Johanna Steyn ... to use
as she sees fit," the will reads.
Van Aardt described Marinda as one of the best teachers at the school.

Cecilia Steyn was a 'reformed satanist'
When hairstylist Sanmarie Volbrecht was introduced to Cecilia Steyn‚ one of the three people
now implicated in a series of killings that occurred in the Krugersdorp area‚ she was told that
Cecilia was a reformed satanist‚ the High Court in Johannesburg heard.
Taking to the stand on Wednesday afternoon‚ Volbrecht said she had attended a course titled
"Know your enemy" when she was casually introduced to Cecilia.
"I was told she was part of a satanic church and that she wanted to break free and serve Jesus
Christ‚" Volbrecht told the court.
Cecilia's lawyer‚ however‚ told the court that his client intended to dispute this version‚
saying she has never been part of a satanic church.
Volbrecht had been invited to the classes by one of her clients and had decided to join her on
her weekly bible courses.
When attending a midweek meeting at the house of Annamarie Scholtz‚ one of the
congregants‚ she was called outside to switch off the lights of her car‚ which usually turned
themselves off.
As she and Scholtz walked to her vehicle‚ they were met by a strong smell of petrol around
the vehicles‚ which were parked in the yard.
"We went to check‚ smelt petrol and walked around the garden to see where the smell came
from‚" Volbrecht told the court.
The two prayed and Scholtz returned inside the house to find a flashlight‚ leaving Volbrecht
alone.
"I heard something in the garden and saw three people jump over the wall. They were about
my height … They were adults‚" Volbrecht said.
"They were dressed in all black‚ with hoodies and gloves. I screamed and yelled and the rest
of the people in the house came out‚" Volbrecht said‚ adding that she did not see their faces.
She and other congregants searched the yard and found sticks and containers of petrol around
the yard. Scholtz had on Wednesday testified that she and other congregants felt victorious
that they had managed to thwart the attackers' plans. Volbrecht was the first to leave the
meeting that day.
"I went to the garage with my mother-in-law to get her car rinsed of petrol because the petrol
had also been thrown inside the car through the window‚" said Volbrecht.
They were dressed in all black‚ with hoodies and gloves. I screamed and yelled and the rest of the
people in the house came out.
Sanmarie Volbrecht
She missed the following week's meeting‚ where the attackers returned and followed through
on their plans. Scholtz had testified that as they sat under the lapa for their meeting‚ they
heard several loud blasts‚ which made her house shake like jello. Several of the congregants'
vehicles were damaged.
"Two weeks after that‚ the first murder [of a congregant] happened‚ so we scattered‚" said
Volbrecht.
The member who was killed was 33-year-old Natacha Burger. She and her neighbour Joyce
Boonzaaier‚ 68‚ had their throats slit in Centurion. Their bodies were found in Boonzaaier's
home.
Volbrecht said she had known Burger only from the meetings. Following her murder‚ she
received threatening messages.
"One of them said: 'Who will be next‚ the traveler‚ the stylist or cycler‚'" she told the court.
She said she also received an email‚ instructing her that her daughter's car seat was not safe‚
along with a picture of her daughter in the seat.
"I feared for my own life and my family's life too‚" she said.
Volbrecht then left the church.
The accused in this matter are Cecilia‚ 37‚ Zac Valentine‚ 33‚ and Marcel Steyn‚ 20.
aggravating circumstances and fraud. Marcel's mother – former high school teacher Marinda
Steyn‚ a friend of Cecilia's – was sentenced to 11 life terms for the Krugersdorp murder
spree‚ after entering into a plea agreement.
Marinda's son Le Roux Steyn is serving an effective 25-year prison term and has testified
Krugersdorp killings: 'Calm' husband

more concerned about cats than dead wife
25 October 2018 - 13:56 By Nomahlubi Jordaan
The group of people accused of going on a killing spree in Krugersdorp between 2012 and
2016 appear in the South Gauteng High Court on May 16 2018.
Zak Valentine was concerned about the whereabouts of his cats and whether he would still be
able to sell his house after discovering the bloodied body of his wife in a bedroom‚ the South
Gauteng High Court heard on Thursday.
Valentine and his co-accused‚ Cecilia Steyn‚ 37‚ and Marcel Steyn‚ 20‚ are accused of
murdering 11 people between 2012 and 2016. Added to that are charges of robbery‚
aggravated assault‚ racketeering‚ possession of an unlicensed firearm‚ fraud and identity
theft.
They pleaded not guilty to 32 counts‚ including murder‚ robbery with aggravating
circumstances‚ fraud and intimidation.
Estelle Schutte‚ a principal estate agent‚ told the court on Thursday that she and a colleague
had made an appointment with Valentine to do a valuation of his house on October 4 2012.
"He was not there when we got to the complex. We called him and he said he would be there
in ten minutes."
When Valentine arrived‚ Schutte said they followed him into the house. "He opened the
garage and we followed him. He had keys in his hands. As we walked in‚ he called out for his
wife and said‚ 'Liefie‚ liefie'."
Schutte said Valentine then walked into his bedroom while they waited in the lounge.
"We heard him scream‚ saying: 'Liefie‚ oh no‚ liefie'.
"We rushed into the bedroom. It was dark. The curtains were drawn. I asked him to open the
curtains. I could see the body of a woman."
Schutte said his wife Mikeila had been "neatly tucked in" to bed like a child. She had stab
wounds and there was a lot of blood‚ said Schutte.
"We went back to the lounge. He [Valentine] said I should go back to check if she was really
dead."
"He asked about the cats. I told him I don't know anything about the cats. He said we must
find the cats."
Schutte asked Valentine to phone someone and tell them what had happened. "I asked him if
there was no one he could call. He said he was going to call his dad. He called his dad and
made a sound as if he was crying.
"He kept on asking me if we would still be able to sell the property. I told him that we had
cancelled the appointment with the client."
"He did not show any concern about her death‚" Schutte said. She found it strange that he
was calm after losing his wife.
"He was so calm. We were shaking."
Krugersdorp killings: Cecilia Steyn denies

being a satanist
2018-11-27 16:25
Ntwaagae Seleka
Cecilia Steyn in court. (File, Felix Dlangamandla, Netwerk24)
Cecilia Steyn, the alleged mastermind behind the controversial Krugersdorp murders, is
expected to testify in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.WATCH
The alleged ringleader of a so-called satanic cult, who allegedly killed 11 people, told the
South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg that she was a devoted reborn Christian since
1996.
Dressed in a black jacket, white shirt and black pants, Cecilia Steyn, 37, denied being a
vampire, a satanist who possesses supernatural powers and a forty-second generation witch.
Instead, she claimed she had been baptised three times.
Cecilia Steyn, 33-year-old Zak Valentine and 20-year-old Marcel Steyn are on trial.
Marinda Steyn, a former teacher and Marcel's mother, was previously sentenced to 11 life
terms and 115 years in jail for her part in the murders. Her son - Le Roux Steyn - turned State
witness and is currently serving an effective 25 years in prison. Le Roux and his mother were
each sentenced separately in May.
Another man, John Barnard, was sentenced to an effective 20 years behind bars in 2016.
Spent time with goths
On Tuesday, Cecilia Steyn claimed that she spent a lot of time with goths in high school and
this could have given people the impression that she was a satanist.
"Since high school, I have never been involved in satanic cults. I don't know why witnesses
claim that I was a satanist. I can't read their minds. Basically, people around me wanted to
have tattoos. They all (later) got tattoos for different reasons. I didn't promote them to get
tattoos similar to mine."
Steyn claimed that she didn't run a cult and said there were no satanic prayer meetings in her
house. Instead, she said people would come to her house and they would sit in the kitchen
discussing many things, such as fishing.
"I was not a ringleader of any enterprise. Ninety percent of our meetings, we would spend
them in my bedroom."
She also told the court that Le Roux Steyn was a drug addict who used crystal meth and
marijuana.
"I confronted him about his drug problem and asked him not to smoke in front of my son. I
don't know why he would say I destroyed his life and why he hated me. He thought I
favoured Marcel over him because I would give Marcel my car to drive - not him," she said.
The witness denied killing any of the victims or assisting Valentine to fake his own death to
claim from his life cover policy.
"I realised at a later stage that people who belonged to my group were killed," she said.
Fake insurance claim
Valentine allegedly faked his own death by fabricating a new identity and setting alight an
unidentified man inside his vehicle near Petrus Steyn, in the Free State on December 16,
2015.
She said she knew Valentine since 1994 or 1995 when they met at church.
"I did Zak a favour by paying for his insurance policy which was in arrears. I freaked out
when he disappeared, and I began phoning police stations and hospitals in the Free State. Zak
had nominated me as one of his beneficiaries to his life cover.
"I didn't ask him to make me a beneficiary. He had his own parents and a brother. He was not
talking to his parents after he pierced his ears," she said.
She and Valentine once had a discussion about how his life policy would be distributed if he
died.
She added that she had received R500 000 from Valentine. She claimed some money was
commission due to her after she made appointments for Valentine's clients. She says a large
amount of that money was paid to her psychologist.
'Krugersdorp Killers': Youngest accused
was a top student, court hears
2018-10-15 16:25
Canny Maphanga
Le Roux Steyn is seen during his appearance at the South Gauteng High Court in
Johannesburg. (Felix Dlangamandla, Gallo Images, Netwerk24, file)
Marcel Steyn, 20, was a "diligent student" who had a promising future, her brother Le Roux
Steyn told the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Monday at the continuation of
the so-called Krugersdorp Killers" trial.
"My sister was a top achiever. She matriculated with six distinctions in her matric year
[2015]," Le Roux Steyn told the court.
Marcel Steyn is the youngest of the five so-called "Krugersdorp Killers" on trial for allegedly
committing 11 murders between 2012 and 2016.
Marinda Steyn and her children Le Roux and Marcel Steyn, as well as Cecilia Steyn and Zak
Valentine, were arrested in 2016 for various crimes around the Krugersdorp area.
Former teacher Marinda Steyn was sentenced in May to 11 life terms and 115 years
imprisonment, to run concurrently, according to a previous News 24 report.
Le Roux Steyn, who turned state witness, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in May on
condition that he testifies.
The remaining trio Cecilia Steyn, 37, Zak Valentine, 33, and Marcel Steyn, 20 are currently
on trial facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, fraud and intimidation.
'I do not speak to her since we got arrested'
According to Le Roux Steyn, Marcel was 14 or 15 years old when their mother Marinda
Steyn took her along to the murder of Mikeila Valentine, who died on October 4, 2012, from
multiple stab wounds.
"I feel sorry for my mother," Le Roux Steyn said.
Le Roux told the court that there was a rift in his family and that his once close relationship
to his younger sister Marcel has been destroyed since his arrest in 2016.
"Marcel and I were very close. We had normal siblings' ups and downs," he said.
"I do not speak to her since we got arrested." The "Electus Per Deus", which the group called
itself, "blamed me for the group being arrested", he told the court.
Le Roux Steyn fingered alleged mastermind behind the Electus Per Deus group and its illegal
activities, Cecilia Steyn, as the cause of the disintegration of his relationship with his sister.
"I don't speak to my sister, sadly not - this has probably been a while. We exchanged letters
in the beginning while I was in jail. Now that has stopped. Cecilia is the reason," he said.
'We are all in this position because of her'

Murder accused Marcel Steyn (20) is seen during her appearance at the South Gauteng High
Court in Johannesburg. (Felix Dlangamandla, Gallo Images, Netwerk24, file)
He said he felt anger when asked about his feelings for co-accused Cecilia Steyn now.
"We are all in this position because of her. I am aggravated and angry that she took my
family for a ride," he said.
In his testimony, Le Roux Steyn previously told the court that he had been forced to be part
of the group's criminal activities, and that he would be dead if he had tried to run away.
He said that his father only came into his life recently, so he had "nowhere to go".
"I was 6 years old and my sister was 4 when our parents divorced. We saw him every second
weekend for a consistent time for a couple of years. After that, it became less, and then we
never saw him at all.
"Our mother led us to believe that he didn't want anything to do with us," he said.
The father of Marcel and Le Roux Steyn sat quietly in the back of the public gallery during
trial proceedings.
Krugersdorp Killers trial: Court hears
there was never an 'Electus Per Deus'
ministry
2018-10-12 15:27
Canny Maphanga
Cecilia Steyn in court. (File, Felix Dlangamandla, Netwerk24)
Cecilia Steyn, the alleged mastermind behind the acts committed by the so-called
"Krugersdorp Killers", says that there was never an "Electus Per Deus" ministry. The
members were just a group of friends, the South Gauteng High Court heard on Friday.
"I put it to you that it is accused two's (Cecilia Steyn's) version that there was never an
Electus Per Deus ministry," lawyer Andre Coetze, for Cecilia, told the court.
"Then why do we have tattoos? That is a lie," first witness Le Roux Steyn responded.
This exchange was heard during the trial of three of the alleged "Krugersdorp Killers",
Cecilia, 37, Zak Valentine, 33, and Marcel Steyn, 20, who are accused of committing a string
of crimes including 11 murders from 2012 to 2016.
The five – Marinda Steyn and her children Le Roux and Marcel as well as Cecilia and
Valentine – were nabbed for various crimes around the Krugersdorp area.
Former teacher Marinda was sentenced in May to 11 life sentences and 115 years'
imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently.
No formal praise and worship
Le Roux, who turned State witness, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in May on
condition that he testifies.
Coetze, in his cross-examination of Le Roux, asked how he knew that Electus Per Deus was
an actual ministry, because those who got the "Electus Per Deus" tattoo did so voluntarily and
were not forced to.
"It was our preference to get the tattoo or not, but the ministry still stood and was known as
Electus Per Deus," Le Roux said.
"She (Cecilia) led us to believe that she was a satanist coming out of the satanic church. We
believed we had to protect people like her who wanted to come out of satanism – that was the
basis of this ministry, not the tattoos," he added.
Coetze tried to prove to the court that there was no ministry as the group had no formal praise
and worship or any other elements that would constitute a ministry.
"We had informal gatherings in Cecilia's lounge. We would pray and read the Bible. It wasn't
formal – but we did have gatherings," Le Roux responded.
Drug use
He also alleged that there were no written rules that the ministry followed but there were
unspoken rules that they all had to abide by.
"I can tell you that we were not allowed to have outside friends, outside girlfriends. I was
beaten multiple times because it was believed that I was having sex with people that I wasn't
sleeping with," Le Roux told the court.
In Le Roux's testimony in the High Court, he shared that members of "Electus Per Deus"
used drugs. Cecilia strongly denied this.
"That is a lie," Le Roux said in response to Cecilia's denial. "The first line of cocaine that I
ever had was with Cecilia and she took it with me."
Krugersdorp Killers: Court hears only
mastermind gained financially from
ministry's crimes
2018-10-11 15:51
Canny Maphanga
The so-called 'Krugersdorp Killers' in 2012. (Image: @calvintalbot)
Only one of the so-called "Krugersdorp Killers", alleged mastermind Cecilia Steyn, gained
financially from the string of crimes the five are accused of having committed from 2012 to
2016, the South Gauteng High Court heard on Thursday.
First witness Le Roux Steyn, 22, was testifying during the trial of three members of the
alleged gang: Cecilia Steyn, 37, Zak Valentine, 33, and Marcel Steyn, 20, who are accused of
having committed 11 murders.
Former teacher Marinda Steyn, mother of Marcel and Le Roux, was sentenced in May to 11
life sentences and 115 years' imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently.
Le Roux, who turned State witness, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in May.
"We were all led to believe the same things, that we were to help ex-satanists with the money
that we contributed to the ministry," Le Roux told the court during cross-examination.
'We were all Cecilia's lapdogs'
Le Roux further revealed that accused number three, Valentine, was essentially the
"breadwinner" and kept the ministry, "Electus Per Deus (Chosen by God)", going.
"Yes, he paid large amounts of money to the ministry. The purpose was to save ex-satanist
kids, so he, like me, believed he was helping people," Le Roux said.
"He was sucked dry by Cecilia."
Advocate Amanda Nel, for Valentine, then asked what the benefit of being part of this
ministry was if they never received anything.
"We didn't gain anything, my mother and Marcel included. We were being used, we were all
Cecilia's lapdogs," Le Roux said.
When Nel asked the first witness why he would remain part of something that contributed
nothing to his life, Le Roux said there was no way out.
'Plenty of threats'
"I was there because my mother was there. My mother led me to believe that my father didn't
want me and I had nowhere to go. I was still a child," Le Roux said.
During Nel's cross-examination of Le Roux, it was revealed that those who were members of
the alleged "satanic church" under the leadership of Cecilia had no option of leaving.
"There were plenty of threats if I tried to leave. I was threatened with a knife by my mother. I
have also been shouted at by Cecilia and my mother that I would end up like Mikeila," Le
Roux said.
Mikeila was Valentine's wife. She was murdered, allegedly by the group, in October 2012
after she became disillusioned by the string of crimes that had been committed.
Le Roux stated that he made several attempts to run away but they always came to nothing
because he simply "had nowhere to go".
"Multiple times at 02:00–03:00, I would leave the house while everyone was sleeping. I
would stop once I made it down the road because I didn't know where to go," he said.
Father identified as potential victim
Le Roux, who reconnected with his biological father when he was 18, said this was initially
halted by the ministry because its leaders wanted its members to be isolated.
The group later had a change of heart once they realised that Le Roux's father, who was
present at the trial, could be their next potential victim.
"When they found out I was fishing with my dad, they (the group) saw it as a benefit to kill
him," Le Roux said.
"I never told my father anything about the ministry. We were told if you talk you will be
killed. We were told spirits follow us and if we talk the spirits will tell Cecilia," he added.
#KrugersdorpMurders — Marcel’s
revelations shock court
You’re either with the group or against the group. These are the sentiments that Marcel Steyn
conveyed about the Krugersdorp murders when she took the stand. Throughout the day she
made many surprising revelations, stating that she only wished to tell the truth about what
happened.
May 13, 2019
Zak Valentine, Cecilia Steyn and Marcel Steyn waiting for the trial to proceed. Photo:
Michelle Swart.
The so-called #KrugersdorpMurders trial resumed today, 13 May, at about 10.35am, after the
court last convened on 3 December, 2018. Today’s session marks the final stretch of the
defendants’ testimony. The News’ Natasha Pretorius and Michelle Swart reported from inside
the courtroom throughout the day.
At 10.45am, the final accused, Marcel Steyn, took the stand after delaying the court
proceedings by arriving late, with Cecilia Steyn. It was thought that heavy traffic might have
held up their convoy.
Marcel noted that Cecilia Steyn, her husband, their children, she herself and, at a later stage,
Le Roux Steyn lived together, after Marcel moved to Cecilia’s home to help out with the
children, because Cecilia’s health was deteriorating.
For many, Marcel’s next words were completely unexpected. She stated that she meant to
speak the truth, and as far as she was able, not to lie. Prior to today’s proceedings, the
testimony given by others had insinuated that she was not involved in any of the crimes.
Now, she wanted to disclose to the court that she was involved in certain aspects, saying that
she couldn’t handle the lies any more. This said, she added that she was fearful about the
revelations she was prepared to make in court, because she didn’t know how Cecilia would
react.
Cecilia had reportedly told the group of perpetrators about an orphanage for children who had
been taken out of Satanic churches, and sent there by their parents, who didn’t want them to
be involved in these churches. Marcel only knew that there was an orphanage that they were
supposedly trying to help. This was the main reason why she was involved in the group.
With regard to the charges of intimidation, where packages were placed under cars, Marcel
claimed that Cecilia had told them that Natacha Burger, a member of Ria Grunewald’s prayer
group, had written a prayer that somehow led to many orphanage children dying, adding that
it was Cecilia’s intention to scare them into stopping the prayers. This seemed to be the
reasoning Cecilia used to convince the group to commit Natacha’s murder.
Using the ploy of a missing cat, Marcel allegedly attempted to gain access to Natacha’s house
by asking if she could check if the cat was inside. She was denied access at this point. She
alleged that, on the day of the murder, Zak and Mikeila Valentine went to the scene while
Marcel remained at the flat until Zak and Mikeila returned. She was given Zak’s knife to
clean with Jik.
According to Marcel, Zak had to kill both Natacha and Joy Bonsaaier, as Mikeila couldn’t
fulfill her role, which was to kill Joy in her room.
With regard to Pastor Reginald John Bendixen’s murder, the first time they tried to murder
him, Marcel was overcome with feelings of nausea and panic.
According to her, the group had a standing agreement that if one person did not wish to go
through with a murder at the time, they would turn around. Marcel never felt that any of this
was real during Natacha’s murder. Bendixen’s murder, in fact felt like too much too quickly
for her. This is when the standing agreement was implemented.
Cecilia was purportedly upset that they had not killed Bendixen, saying that they were
wasting her time and that she might as well just have given herself up to the ‘Satanic church’.
Marinda Steyn, however, was said to have been against this idea and wanted to work on
another plan for the murder.
Zak allegedly dressed up in a police uniform and wig to look like a woman, and Marinda
Steyn told
Bendixen that they were detectives investigating Natacha’s murder. After entering through
the front door, Zak and Marinda allegedly attacked Bendixen. Upon his stabbing, Marcel said
she “froze.”
Cecilia reportedly told the group that they were in a time of war and that God had instructed
her to commit these murders. She told the group the story of David in the Bible, that he went
out and killed many people at God’s command. She said that in a time of war, there are other
rules than usual. Marcel, at one point, also believed that Cecilia could ‘astral project’ and
read their thoughts, making her more fearful of Cecilia finding out how she felt.
Marcel was tearful when she spoke of Mikeila Valentine’s death. She claimed that Marinda
hit and stabbed her, at which point Marcel herself then stabbed Mikeila, because, she said,
she feared that Cecilia would be told if she didn’t. Marcel said that she asked, “What if she
did not talk?”, hoping that they wouldn’t have to kill her, but Cecilia did not agree.
Marcel noted that they were looking for someone with a lot of money, and came upon Peter
and Joan Meyer. It was decided that Marinda would pretend to have a grant or tender to
present to them. After Marcel was picked up from school, they proceeded to the Meyers’
home, where they were given a tour. One of the Meyers’ sons and his girlfriend was
reportedly there, so they did not proceed with the murder. Marcel was still in her school
uniform at this point.
Le Roux Steyn was supposed to go along for the murder of the Meyers, but had accidentally
shot himself earlier. Cecilia didn’t want to wait any longer, so Marcel was told to go along.
The group was told that the Meyers’ son had gone out for take-aways. Marcel noted that Zak
was pacing and Marinda initiated the process of robbing the couple, intimidating them with a
gun and telling them to get on the floor. At some point, Zak reportedly snapped and brutally
attacked the couple.
This time they did not discard the weapons in a drain as usual, but simply threw them out of
the window, along with the Meyers’ wallet and cellphone. Afterwards, they reportedly went
to a casino where Marcel won R2 000 on a Blackjack table. This money was used to buy
medication for a woman in the Satanic church who had kidney problems.
“I felt that the Meyers’ murders were not justified. They died for nothing. My brother went
through a rebellious phase, and it was said he was endangering the group, and that he would
be disposed of like Mikeila,” Marcel said. “We [the group] didn’t really have a name. It was
just ‘us’ initially. Our purpose was to support Cecilia to pray on high days, to make sure that
the Satanic church didn’t get her and learn from her. We believed her so much,” she
responded when asked about the group’s name, Electus Per Deus. “As I got older, we got
more involved in the social side of the group. Sometimes we would talk about God and
Cecilia would teach us.” Marcel said she didn’t see them as a group, “I saw them as my
family.”
The court proceedings have resumed after the lunch break, and another article will follow
shortly, providing more details of the hearing.
#KrugersdorpMurders – ‘I am sorry, I am
really sorry’
The second half of the court proceedings for the remaining three accused Krugersdorp
murderers was no less shocking than the morning session, with Marcel talking about her drug
use and tearfully saying she was sorry to the victim’s families.
May 14, 2019
Marcel Steyn before giving testimony in the South Gauteng High Court. Photo: Natasha
Pretorius.
During the morning of the continuation of the #KrugersdorpMurders trial, Marcel Steyn,
daughter of Marinda Steyn and part of the alleged Electus Per Deus ministry, which was
allegedly formed and led by the infamous Cecilia Steyn, gave her shocking testimony.
Before the court announced a one-hour break at 1pm, Marcel noted that Cecilia, because she
wasn’t present at the murders, always wanted to know exactly what had happened after every
murder.
Kevin McAlpine’s murder was much the same as that of Anthony Schofield. Marcel said
when she returned after checking if the PIN he had provided was correct, she witnessed her
brother, Le Roux Steyn, strangling him. The two men’s belongings, cellphones, laptops, etc.
were discarded in the Key West Shopping Centre dam. Hanle Lategan’s bank account threw
out an error which Marcel didn’t recognise when they tried to access it. They went to many
other ATMs, but kept receiving this error message. They could withdraw a small amount of
money, but not everything. When Marcel returned, Hanle was already dead. John Barnard,
one of the group who pleaded guilty in 2016 and was sentenced to 20 years in jail, said that
he knew of a field near Randfontein where they could dispose of the body.
Marcel had, at this point, applied to a university, but did not tell Marinda or Cecilia, believing
that they would not let her go. She again noted that if someone wasn’t with the group, they
were effectively deemed to be against them. She and her mother were involved in a fight
when she told her that she had been accepted to the university.
She explained that she never felt like she had anyone she could talk to, even though she and
her mom had a very close relationship. Her brother, Le Roux, was also protective of her at
school.
“My brother was my protector at school,” she told the court.
After they met Cecilia, though, things were complicated and their relationships became
strained. They were thereafter not allowed to wear certain clothes, play games or listen to
specific types of music.
She idiolised Cecilia, because the latter had told her that she had many degrees, could speak
multiple languages, had gone through a lot growing up and was a very staunch Christian.
“And even after all of this, she made something of herself,” Marcel said.
Marcel said she knew about the firearms kept at 17 Cosanna Flats and the ammunition
concealed in Marinda’s classroom, but she herself was never in possession of any firearms.
Marcel revealed that she felt relieved when her mother was sentenced. This relief also made
her feel guilty. For the first time she could be her own person. Marcel and Marinda see each
other once a month at family therapy with a social worker. She saw her mother on Thursday,
9 May, when she gave Marinda a Mother’s Day card and a letter. She made her promise that
she’d only open the letter today, 13 May. She told the court that her mother probably knew
about her decision to tell the truth now.
“By the time the trial started last year, after seeing Cecilia for a few days, the whole day, I
just wanted to get away. I was scared she would attack me, physically, while we travelled
together,” Marcel said. She is especially afraid now of being transported with her in the same
truck, and staying in the same holding cell during the trial after she had revealed her ‘truths’
in court. “She didn’t know what I would testify today. I was scared she would try to
manipulate me.”
After this statement, the court ruled that Cecilia and Marcel would be separated in future,
both in the truck and the courtroom. Cecilia, Marinda and Marcel are not allowed to be in the
same place at the same time.
At about 2pm, court recommenced and Marcel continued her testimony.
Court proceedings moved on with her testimony pertaining to the rest of the murders.
Referring to the Glen McGregor murder, Marcel said that she, Le Roux, Marinda and John
Barnard went to Glen’s house. Marinda had made an appointment with him, and when she
told Glen that they were robbing him, he supposedly simply laughed at her in response. When
he stood up, Marinda fired two shots at him. He fell to the ground and did not get up after
that. Marcel told the court they looked for a safe and money but did not find anything so
Marinda successfully made a bank transfer from his account to hers. Marinda first tried to
smother him with plastic wrap that she had brought with her, but that didn’t work.
Le Roux then proceeded to strangle him, and they moved his body away from the window
because they were afraid that someone had heard the shots and would come and investigate.
They placed his body in a bath, opened the tap and left the water running. Marinda allegedly
said this would wash away any evidence.
Marcel testified that after her arrest she wanted to tell the police everything, but decided to
rather ask for a lawyer.
She explained that she knew about a confidentiality clause and thought maybe a lawyer
would be able to give her advice. She then asked for a lawyer but the police apparently told
her that a lawyer would just tell her to keep quiet. Thereafter, she refused to help the police.
On the Sunday, they allegedly took her out of her cell, put a gas mask on her and tried to
smother her.
“After this I was angry at the police and decided I would not talk to them.”
In 2013, Marinda had allegedly told Cecilia that a group of people had visited the school
where she was teaching, and where both Marcel and Le Roux were learners at the time. The
group came to speak to the children about drug abuse.
Cecilia then told them that the group was exaggerating and bought a quantity of CAT
(Methcathinone or ‘Meth’), for the whole group to try. Marcel claimed that all of the
members used drugs from time to time. They reportedly used CAT, a highly addictive
psychoactive substance and later moved on to Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine). Marcel was
14 years old when she used drugs for the first time, and continued using up until the time of
her arrest.
At first it was only once in a while but as they continued with the criminal activity, she
started asking John for more drugs, because using made her feel less guilty. Towards the end,
she was using drugs practically every day. Marinda was apparently fine with Marcel using
drugs, as long as they were provided by Cecilia.
According to Marcel, Marinda and Zak wrote a prayer together and personalised it for the
group. In this prayer they referred to the Electus Per Deus witches and children and after that
the group voluntarily got tattoos.
Marcel clearly stated that, in her opinion, Cecilia was the leader of the group, and that she
was the main instigator of most of the things they did, and that Marinda was second in
command throughout. Regarding herself, she noted that she derived no benefits from the
offences committed by the group and that, as far as she knew, the money they acquired was
given to the orphans.
On the subject of what she would say to the families who were affected by these crimes, she
tearfully said, “I thought a lot about what I could say, what I want to say, and basically what
it boils down to. The short version is I’m very sorry. I know my testifying and telling the
truth, and admitting how sorry I am does not bring them back. It does not take the pain away,
and you will walk with that for the rest of your lives. And I contributed, I am sorry, I am
really sorry.”
Court adjourned at 2.30pm, and will reconvene today at 10am. The News’ Natasha Pretorius
and Michelle Swart will again report and Tweet from inside the courthouse.
#KrugersdorpMurders – did Marcel have

romantic feelings towards Zak Valentine?
With Marcel Steyn taking the stand on the second day of her testimony, will more shocking
details of the #KrugersdorpMurders come to light from the mouth of the youngest accused?
May 14, 2019
Taking the stand on Day 2 of her testimony – Marcel Steyn. Photos: Michelle Swart.
It’s Day 2 of Marcel Steyn’s testimony in the reconvened #KrugersdorpMurders trial taking
place in the South Gauteng High Court, with journalist Natasha Pretorius reporting from a
very tense courtroom.
The trial resumed yesterday, 13 May, after it was adjourned in December last year. Marcel,
daughter of Marinda Steyn and part of the alleged Electus Per Deus ministry, which was
allegedly formed and led by the infamous Cecilia Steyn, gave her shocking testimony.
New evidence was presented in court yesterday which left everyone gasping for air.
Her questioning started with Zak Valentine’s lawyer asking if she classified herself as
intelligent, to which she replied, “Yes”.
She explained that she truly believed that Cecilia Steyn was a Christian and said Cecilia
explained to her that there are certain things you are born with, certain powers, and the more
generations you have before you, the more powers you have, so even though Cecilia was not
in the Satanic church any more, she still had these abilities.
When asked who it was that threatened her if she were to leave the group, she said it was
mostly her mother and Cecilia; sometimes her brother as well, but never Zak. She agreed that
her initial version of how things happened was false and that her co-accused did not have
time to respond to her newest version. She never approached her previous lawyer about
coming clean.
She explained that she was approached about turning state witness like her brother, and that
her previous advocate had informed her of the option. She did not take the deal however,
even after her father and brother asked her to confess.
When asked where she thought the money for their lifestyle came from, she said Cecilia told
them she had inherited a farm from her grandfather and that the farm was still active, thus she
received proceeds from it on a regular basis. She was aware that her co-accused made
monetary contributions, but believed it all went to the orphanage. She felt that everything
they did was for the greater good of the orphans (Cecilia had told them of the group of
“orphans” for whom they were praying). Natacha Burger, a member of Ria Grunewald’s
prayer group, had written a prayer that somehow led to many orphanage children dying, and
it was Cecilia’s intention to scare them into stopping the prayers. This seemed to be the
reasoning Cecilia used to convince the group to murder Natacha.
The mastermind behind all the murders? Cecilia Steyn in court this morning. Photo: Michelle
Swart.
When asked what she believed happened to the money from the murders committed in 2016
and onward, she said she believed some of the ‘murder money’ was used to pay Cecilia’s
psychologist and the rest of the money went to the orphanage.
She also acknowledged that there were police officers who visited Cecilia’s husband at her
house. She said she didn’t tell any of them what was going on because she was scared they
wouldn’t believe her if she told them everything.
The lawyer pointed out that her testimony and that of her brother, Le Roux, differ quite a bit,
as do her mother’s testimony and her own.
She described her mother’s testimony as a last resort attempt to keep her and Cecilia out of it.
Her mother lied to protect her.
Marcel remembers Zak coming to Cecilia’s flat with firearms that he went to pick up. This
was before the Meyer (Peter and Joan) murders, but she cannot pin the time-line down closer
than that.
Marcel was present while fertiliser bombs were being built and she was present while they
were “testing certain theories” at the dams.
Marcel confirms that contrary to Le Roux’s statement, she was in fact involved in the murder
of Pastor Reginald John Bendixen.
Marcel was also part of the scouting and planning of the murders of the Meyers. She is the
only accused telling the court that she and Zak went gambling with the money they stole
during the murder of the Meyers. There was a plan to have Marcel’s biological father
murdered for the insurance money.
Marcel stated that she sees her mother’s testimony as a desperate attempt to get herself
(Marcel) and Cecilia off, and stated that most of Marinda’s statement consisted of lies.
Marinda’s statement that the money obtained in the latter killings was used to support Zak is
untrue, according to Marcel.
She stated that she never felt any hatred towards Zak. He taught her how to drive, and even
helped her with her studies. Marcel never told Zak that she had romantic feelings towards
him.
• Second Defence takes over the cross-examination
Going back to the threatening messages sent to get Natacha Burger to stop the prayers,
Marcel stated that she never saw these messages.
Cecilia, in her statement, denied that she told Marcel she (Marcel) had psychopathic demons,
but Marcel only saw herself as a psychopath after Cecilia said that to her. She no longer sees
herself as a psychopath. She changed her views during the trial when she realised Cecilia was
not who she thought she was.
She was asked who gave the instructions on the fertiliser bombs, to which Marcel answered
that she was instructed to help her mother with the bombs by helping her build them. She was
instructed, mostly by Cecilia, to be on the lookout for cars at the place where the bombs were
planted.
Marcel then stated that the major details of all the murders were planned by the group ahead
of time. Cecilia gave a lot of input as to who the victims must be and how the murders must
take place. All plans needed to be approved by Cecilia.
Also present in court, accused Zak Valentine. Photo: Michelle Swart.
Marcel admits that she knew Burger from visits to Cecilia’s flat. When she was questioned
about the first attempted murder, she said she had made up the story of the cat as she was
wearing a wig and was in disguise. The Defence stated that Marcel is depicting her
involvement as tacit, and that this is not the truth.
Marcel disagreed that Cecilia denied ever telling her that she (Cecilia) has powers and can
read minds, but agreed that Cecilia denied that she had given Zak medicine to give to
Mikeila.
She also denied that Cecilia denied that she gave instructions for her (Marcel) to turn on the
heating blanket during this murder.
The Court then adjourned for a tea break.

#KrugersdorpMurders — Marcel recounts
the details of the murders
Marcel Steyn took the stand after the tea break and started recounting the murders and her
role in them.
May 14, 2019
After a short recess, Marcel Steyn’s testimony in the South Gauteng High Court in the trial
that shook the country continued.
Marcel was 14 when the first murder took place. She stated that her brother was threatened
multiple times in front of her, and they killed Mikeila and would have killed her (Marcel),
should she have “gone against the group”.
With regard to the Meyer murders, Marcel stated that there was nothing she could use as an
excuse not to go on the first appointment.
Marcel was prevented from leaving Cecilia’s house. She was not allowed to visit friends or
family, as Cecilia said if she did, she (Marcel) would come home with demons and endanger
her (Cecilia).
She only slept over at Mikeila and Zak Valentine’s house once or twice, but never more than
that.
The Defence then put it to Marcel that she got involved in the murders of her own accord, but
she did not agree with their statement.
When asked how she supported her drug habit, Marcel said she got her drug money by
working as an extra Maths teacher at Jan de Klerk High School, but added that Cecilia took
over a lot of Marcel’s expenses when she moved in with her. She stated that she still smokes
dagga sometimes to help her fall asleep.
• State takes over the cross-examination:
Marcel moved in with Cecilia because of Cecilia’s health problems and to help with the
children. She knew of Ria Grunewald since 2008, before she had even met her. Marcel was
not happy when she heard that she would be staying with Cecilia permanently, as she was
under the impression that it would only be for a short while.
At one stage, it was said between Marinda and Cecilia that in the spiritual realm, Cecilia was
Marcel’s mother and that Cecilia had that kind of ‘soul ties’ with Marcel.
Cecilia came up with the ‘first idea’ of harming people. Cecilia said that about 15 orphans
had died in one night after Natacha Burger said a prayer and it was because of that incident
that the murders started.
Marcel was aware of the courses that were presented by Ria, and that Cecilia drafted the
study material for them.
Marcel did not recall that Cecilia at any stage expressed that she wanted to kill Ria.
Sometimes Cecilia would do a lot of things for Ria and then say that she (Ria) did not
appreciate it.
When questioned about Cecilia’s personalities, Marcel stated she was aware that Cecilia had
Dissociative Identity Disorder. At one stage, Cecilia said that she had over 1 000 different
personalities. Among them was Anja, a three-year-old personality that ‘made’ Cecilia want to
colour pictures and so forth. Another personality was Kesha, who would swear a lot. Daphne
spoke English and did not drink tea, and there were a few other personalities.
She was then questioned on the instance where blood supposedly came from Cecilia’s mouth.
Marcel stated that she [Cecilia] drew blood from a few members of the group and mixed it
with a substance that would prevent it from ‘drying up’. She would also mix the blood with
glycerine to increase the volume.
Marcel confirmed that there was a tracking device on Ria’s vehicle. Cecilia had this done to
keep track of Ria. Marcel said she thought that Cecilia had asked Zak to buy the tracking
device, and stated that she (Marcel) had to put it under Ria’s car. The group made pipe bombs
too, but according to Marcel they were never used anywhere.
Moving on to Pastor Reginald John Bendixen’s murder, Marcel stated that she went along to
create a false sense of calm in Bendixen, because “nobody would do such things with a child
present”.
With regard to Natacha’s murder, they used knives as weapons, although they had taken
either a hammer or an axe, but did not use it.
When Zak and Mikeila returned after the murder, they gave feedback to Cecilia and gave her
the knife that was used during the murder. The group always carried gloves with them to
make sure they did not leave fingerprints at the crime scene. Cecilia was satisfied at the
outcome of the murder; however, she was upset with Mikeila for running out of the house
[after killing Natacha].
Joy Boonzaier was used as a decoy to get hold of Natacha. They had also planned to kill Joy
along with Natacha.
With regard to the weapons used, different members of the group would buy the weapons.
They also used stolen number plates, which Le Roux would steal from random vehicles while
taking a walk. This was Cecilia’s idea, Marcel said.
Marcel stated the only time she stabbed someone was during the murder of Mikeila
Valentine.
Zak informed Cecilia that Mikeila wanted to withdraw from the group and this led to her
murder. Cecilia came up with the plan to murder her.
Marcel said she could not recall who came up with the plan as to how Mikeila was to be
murdered, but usually Cecilia would come up with the initial plan and the rest of the group
would contribute their ideas.
They had access to Zak and Mikeila’s residence with a set of extra keys. They carried plastic
bags with the weapons inside. She cannot recall if Zak was there when they arrived. They
went into the house through the garage.
They entered the bedroom, where Mikeila appeared to be sleeping. Marinda walked up to
Mikeila and immediately started hitting her with the hammer. Mikeila tried to block the
blows but her movements were very slow. Marcel stabbed Mikeila once in the left side.
They took a few items from the house to make it seem like a robbery, but on the way back to
Cecilia’s flat they threw those items out of the window. Marinda changed clothes – she
bought cheap clothes which she wore for the murder and then discarded them afterwards.
The plan was that Zak would go home with other people [two estate agents] that afternoon
and find Mikeila’s body.
Various amounts of money were given to Cecilia by Zak, but Marcel stated that she does not
know the exact amounts. However, it would be a lot of money as the money was supposedly
going to the orphans for plane tickets overseas.
When Zak changed jobs, he was not able to contribute to the orphans as much as he used to,
so they needed to make another plan to get the money.
Then came the murder of Joan and Peter Meyer, for money. They did not use disguises in the
murder of the Meyers as they did not know them. The group believed that there was a safe
containing money in the house. They were going to let the couple access the safe for them.
Marcel and Marinda were both very surprised when Zak “snapped” and started stabbing the
Meyers.
After the Meyer murders, which were not seen as a success, Zak came up with the idea of
staging his own death. Cecilia was at that stage the beneficiary on Zak’s life insurance policy.
After the faking of Zak’s death, Cecilia was elated. She was told that it took multiple attempts
to kill Jarrod Jackson [whose body they used as Zak’s while staging his death] and Cecilia
stated that she found that “weird”.
They found places for Zak to stay afterwards that were easily accessible to the group to take
him food, but also places where people would not recognise him.
With regard to Zak’s medication, Marcel said that Cecilia paid for it.
Cecilia complained that during the time [when Zak was supposedly dead] he just sat there
doing nothing and did not even try to find a way to make an income.
They thought that they would get the money from Zak’s life insurance “pretty soon” and they
would give Zak some of the money for him to move away and start a new life.
The Court then adjourned for lunch.

#KrugersdorpMurders — Marcel ends her
emotional testimony
Marcel testified that she feared for her life if she left the murderous group and believed that
Cecilia’s police connections would not believe her if she told them about their plans.
May 15, 2019
During her second day of testimony in the South Gauteng High Court in the trial which
shocked the country beyond belief, the youngest accused, Marcel Steyn’s cross-examination
by the state and her co-accused’s legal representatives ended, leaving the courtroom in a state
of extreme tension.
In the morning session, she told the court of the constant fear she has that if she should ever
leave the group, she would be killed. She testified to her belief in Cecilia Steyn and the things
she told them about Satanic churches and orphans.
She explained that looking back now, she has realised there was an opportunity to tell
someone about her life and the group’s criminal activities, but that she was too scared to do
anything.
She told the court that the testimony of her mother, Marinda Steyn, was an effort to get her
and Cecilia off. Later in the day, she explained that Cecilia had told her and Marinda that if
one of them would plead guilty and testify and make it look like she was the one who planned
everything, the other two would escape jail. She (Marcel) could not do it because she was still
young and there would have been too many questions about who had helped her.
She explained how she thought at first she was going to live with Cecilia for a short while,
but that her mother told her this would be a permanent arrangement. She explained how Ria
Groenewald was initially like a caregiver to Cecilia, but over time, she withdrew from
Cecilia. Marcel got the impression that Cecilia was more committed to Ria than the other way
around.
The group would allegedly buy new weapons for each murder and discard them afterward. Le
Roux Steyn, her brother, would also go for walks and steal number plates from cars for them
to use during their attacks.
Regarding Glen McGregor’s murder, she said that Cecilia had given certain instructions.
“Cecilia gave my mother instructions to go the bar that John Barnard had said McGregor was
known to frequent,” she said.
She said the group didn’t want to use a knife to kill McGregor, because they did not want to
create a pattern that could be traced back to them.
Her shocking testimony included details of how, after Kevin McAlpine’s murder, Cecilia
went up to her flat, 17 Cosana in the Krugersdorp CBD, where McAlpine had already been
killed and put in a dustbin to be disposed of.
“She made a joke about him being in the dustbin,” Marcel said.
She also told how the piece of meat that was found in front of Ria’s door with a note stating,
“Sorry this is all the little doggies left you, now you have your own little piece of Reg”, was
in fact from a pig’s head.
Another thing they would use pigs’ heads for was to practice stabbing people.
“We would practice stabbing the pig’s head in Cecilia’s room.”
Cecilia allegedly told Marcel that she had a PhD in Psychology, a degree in Anthropology
and had studied to be a minister of religion.
She said that while Cecilia was allegedly a practicing psychologist, she went by the name of
Dr Brandt, because this was her maiden name. And although Marcel never saw a degree
certificate, Marinda had told her that medical staff at the hospital called Cecilia ‘Doctor’.
Marcel said she believed Cecilia had special powers. Marinda told her that Cecilia was a
42nd generation witch and by being one she had inherited special powers. Cecilia even
named some of her ancestors.
Cecilia denied being a witch when she testified, but during the trial she was seen wearing a
necklace with a Celtic knot. Celtic knots have many different meanings, one of them
allegedly being that they are representations of the other world, and they have at times been
associated with witchcraft.
Some of Cecilia’s powers included astral projection, mind-reading and levitation. Marcel
claimed she had witnessed the phenomenon of levitation once.
When she was only 13, Marcel was told she had psychopathic demons that would never leave
her and that is why she was a psychopath. For a long time, she claimed to have believed this,
but all this changed after her mother was sentenced and she realised she did in fact have
empathy and sympathy for others.
She decided to tell her truth when she heard the testimony of Ria and another witness. The
other witness wrote a letter to her while she was in jail and the similarities between the two
women’s experiences with those Cecilia claimed to have were more than just coincidence for
her.
This made her see that Cecilia was lying to them all.
Marcel told the court how she believed Cecilia had brainwashed them and that they all put a
lot of trust in her.
“A lot of people came and went in the group but only the five of us stayed, because we truly
believed.”
She believes that Cecilia robbed her of a normal teenage life and because of this, she
harboured ill feelings toward Cecilia at times.
During her time with Cecilia and the group, she believed herself to be a Christian and was
even baptised by Cecilia in her bathroom. The baptism could however not take her
psychopathic demons away, according to Cecilia.
She admitted there were times that she did question her faith. One time in particular was just
before Hanle Lategan’s murder.
“I was sitting in John’s [Barnard] room and I asked God if it is not His will, He should make
something happen, like a family emergency, so that Hanle would cancel her appointment and
not come to the flat.”
But then Hanle showed up, and became the last victim in their murder spree.
Marcel ended her testimony with Judge Ellem Jacob Francis adjourning the court to next
Thursday, 23 May, for closing arguments, whereafter he will deliver his judgment.
#KrugersdorpMurders — State says Cecilia

was the ‘CEO’ of this murderous
‘company’
The State will prove the motives for the murders were revenge and personal greed and that Cecilia
Steyn was the head of the group.
May 23, 2019
The final leg of the trial of the remaining three accused in the #KrugersdorpMurders case is
in progress, with final arguments starting in the South Gauteng High Court today.
The State Prosecutor, Gerrit Roberts, said this is a case of religious manipulation, murder and
lies and the lives of the victim’s families were impacted in such a way that they had to move
away and start new lives. There was also a financial impact, and Ria Grunewald had been
forced to start over and create a new identity.
The State will prove the motives for the murders were revenge and personal greed, and that
Cecilia Steyn was the head of the group.
According to Roberts, Marcel Steyn, the youngest accused, surprised the court when she
changed her version from denial; however, by changing her mind she confirmed the State’s
indictment.
The State explained there were many other witnesses who were sucked into this group and
persuaded to believe what Cecilia told them, but they made the decision not to accept her
word. Marcel had the same opportunity, and she had the option to leave if she really wanted
to.
“If we take Cecilia away, no crime would have been committed. The rift between her and
Grunewald would not have happened, and the rest of the crimes were just a domino effect
after that,” he said.
He explained that this case was like a puzzle, and with Marcel’s testimony, the last of the
pieces had been added.
He went on to say that the group was like an enterprise, with Cecilia Steyn at its head.
Marinda Steyn, Marcel’s mother, was the second in command, and the others in the group
were the foot soldiers.
He likened it to a company with a CEO and employees and each employee had their own
duties within the company.
The State will prove that Cecilia was the leader of the group, and that although she did not
‘get her hands dirty’ she was aware and in charge of the group’s activities.
According to his argument, the murders committed before 2015, can be linked to Cecilia
wanting revenge.
Pastor Nel’s church was burned because he was too close to Ria, Natacha Burger was
becoming Ria’s second in charge and even started presenting the Know Your Saviour courses
for the Overcomers Through Christ ministry, which has Ria’s ministry.
Pastor Reg Bendixen was also a close friend of Ria.
The State said that the murder of Mikeila Valentine, Zak Valentine’s (also an accused) wife,
was committed by persons close to Cecilia. Mikeila was a liability as she had told Zak and
her family she wanted to get out. She had intimate knowledge of their crimes.
The group conspired to kill Joshua Grunewald for the sole reason that he was Ria’s son and
they wanted to take out those close to Ria, Roberts said.
Roberts explained that people close to Cecilia who had a change of heart and decided to
disappear are still alive today.
After a short break, the trial of the remaining three accused in the #KrugersdorpMurders case
continued with the State Prosecutor, Gerrit Roberts, presenting the State’s case.
Final arguments are currently under way in the South Gauteng High Court.
Roberts said that over the course of two years, Zak Valentine had given over R2 million to
Cecilia for the ‘orphanage’ they were allegedly assisting. Another witness previously testified
that she had given over R100 000 in one month and John Barnard even took out a R30 000
loan to fund the ‘orphans’.
Roberts went on to explain that the murders were planned down to the smallest details, and
even Barnard and Le Roux Steyn were initially fully involved in the planning of the murders
of Joan and Peter Meyer, although they did not actively participate. Barnard could not go
because the Meyers would have recognised him as he had previously been one of their
employees.
He explained that the four appointment murders, those of Kevin McAlpine, Glen McGregor,
Hanle Lategan and Anthony Scholefield, were committed in a similar manner, and all the
money was handed over to Cecilia afterwards.
When asked why the group members never questioned the reality of the orphanage, Roberts
said: “You don’t question the leader of the cult”, explaining that the group could easily be
compared to a cult.
Speaking about the threatening messages that were sent to the members of the Overcomers
Through Christ (OTC) ministry, he said they could be connected to Ria and her ministry as
they revealed intimate knowledge of a hairdresser and a cyclist, which correlated with OTC
members. Some of the messages contained information about future murders and could only
have been sent by someone who had prior knowledge of the events that occurred.
Marcel’s testimony confirmed a lot of what Le Roux and other witnesses said and had
confirmed a lot of the incidents that happened.
The initial threats sent in the SMSes had increased in seriousness until they ended in the
murders. These incidents were not random acts of violence but clearly planned incidents
meant to hurt Ria, and people close to Ria were chosen as victims. The only one of the group
who could benefit from these incidents was Cecilia.
Getting Joyce Boonzaaier to write a letter inviting Natacha Burger to her house, the wrapped
gifts for Natacha’s birthday surprise and the fact that they previously went to her house,
shows that her murder had been planned in advance, down to the smallest detail.
As with the other crimes, the disguises, the fake number plates, buying different knives for
each murder and so much more all show the extensive planning that went into the group’s
criminal activities.
Roberts continued to go through previous testimonies, showing how different people

corroborated different events that occurred.
He explained that some of the small details in the testimonies could differ but this could be
attributed to the different ways people see and remember things. But on the main things, they
all agreed.
Zak’s Advocate speaks: “Zak thought he

was doing good and wanted to help the
children.”
Advocate Nel stated that Zak Valentine is, without a doubt, a Christian, but that Cecilia spoke about
Satanism with such conviction that it was difficult for the group not to believe her.
May 24, 2019

Zak Valentine, Cecilia Steyn and Marcel Steyn waiting for the trial to proceed
Everyone present in the South Gauteng High Court today was geared up for the last portion
of the arguments from the legal representatives of the remaining three accused in the
#KrugersdorpMurders case.
Advocate Nel, representing Zak Valentine, was the first to speak. She started by saying that
the group initially started off as a ministry which was named Electus Per Deus, which means
‘Chosen by God’. She noted that she agreed with the State on the subject of Cecilia Steyn
acting as the leader of the group, but explained that Zak thought he was doing good and
wanted to help the children.
When Zak met Cecilia, she [Cecilia] claimed he and his wife Mikeila were part of the
Overcomers Through Christ (OTC) group, and had taken part in the Know Your Enemy
course within the group. He later became part of Electus Per Deus after leaving the OTC.
Yesterday, 23 May, the State attempted to prove that the group was an enterprise. Nel said
there was no such enterprise and that the racketeering charges could not be proven.
According to her, the evidence shows that Cecilia had told everyone that she was an occultist,
and no evidence had been presented to prove that she was a born-again Christian.
She added that her client, Zak, is, without doubt, a Christian. Cecilia, however, spoke about
Satanism with so much conviction and knowledge that it was hard for the group and others
not to believe her. “It is our submission that she retained those powers. They may have
disappeared at some time,” Advocate Nel said, while explaining that Cecilia could really
have been a witch and part of the Satanic church.
She further described Cecilia as a pathological liar who used Satanism to get everyone to do
what she wanted them to do. She explained that Ria Grunewald’s group were Christians, and
Cecilia’s purpose was to destroy them. The moment Ria left the OTC, the ministry dissolved,
and Cecilia got what she had initially wanted.
When it comes to the murder of Mikeila, Nel said that there’s insufficient evidence to prove
that her client was involved. The motive, she stated, was that Cecilia sought control over the
group, and Mikeila wanted her husband to stop giving them money. “So,” said Nel, “Cecilia
had her killed”.
With regard to the fraud charges, and the possession of the unlicensed firearm charges, Nel said that
the evidence cannot show that Zak had control of the firearm, and that he did not have knowledge
about the specific charges mentioned. “I request the court to consider that we are not dealing with a
normal case. With that in mind, consider the evidence and Zak’s case”.
Marcel’s lawyer speaks: “For a fourteen-

year-old child, the sight of her mother
stabbing someone repeatedly can never be
said to not have left some kind of trauma”
Marcel Steyn’s legal representative addressed the court, attempting to further convince the court
that Marcel did not have much choice in the matter, as she was very young when it all started.
May 24, 2019
As the #KrugersdorpMurders trial nears its end, after Zak Valentine’s and Cecilia Steyn’s
advocates had delivered their closing arguments on behalf of their clients, Advocate Johnson
addressed the court on behalf of Marcel Steyn.
Johnson spoke, firstly, of Marcel’s reason for getting involved in the crimes, i.e. “… that it
was God’s will.” Johnson added that she did actually have other specific reasons for
participating in the crimes.
She said that the group was under the false impression that Cecilia’s life was in danger
because of the children at the orphanage. Marcel did not want Cecilia to get hurt and that is
why she believed in and helped Cecilia. “It is clear from the evidence that she was influenced
by Cecilia. Even her mother told her she had to believe what Cecilia said,” said Johnson.
The Advocate went on to state that, as Marcel grew up, she was threatened, and told that she
would end up like Mikeila, and that made her scared enough to not want to run. She tried to
distance herself from the actual murders because she knew what the group was doing was
wrong, but had no option other than to join them, because she was scared that they would kill
her.
“I submit that for a fourteen-year-old child, the sight of her mother stabbing someone
repeatedly can never be said to not have left some kind of trauma,” said Johnson.
Johnson said that it had been hinted that Marcel’s testimony had been a tactical move, and
that her version of events could not be corroborated because she had testified last. Johnson’s
response to this was: “I would not have objected if any of the other representatives had
brought an application to recall any witness to corroborate the story.”
Johnson claimed that Marcel had said that it was never an option to come clean or ask for
help, because her life was in danger. She was afraid she’d be killed. She also explained that if
Marcel had not participated in the planning of the crimes and the murders, she would have
been seen to be withdrawing, as was the case with Mikeila Valentine.
“I submit that the State has failed to prove that a reasonable person in Marcel’s position
would have acted any differently,” said Johnson, adding that Marcel had been forbidden to go
to church, she was forbidden to go to her father and she was not allowed to have friends. She
could only go to school and go home. The only people she had in her life were those in the
group.
Johnson raised the the following question: “Marcel was still young, and at the age of
fourteen, if she had decided to run away, how would she have supported herself? She was
influenced to believed her father did not want her”.
The State is set to speak next, but a verdict will only be given on 3 June.
#KrugersdorpMurders — Guilty, guilty,
guilty! Krugersdorp murderers hear
judgment
The remaining three accused in the trial of the Krugersdorp murders heard guilty verdicts
yesterday.
58 mins ago
The remaining three accused were found guilty. Zak Valentine, Cecilia Steyn and Marcel
Steyn in court. Photo: Michelle Swart.
Monday, 3 June marked an important day in the trial of the remaining three accused in the
Krugersdorp murders as Judge Francis Jacob delivered his judgment.
During the 37-day trial, many witnesses took the stand to tell a story of theft, fraud,
racketeering, intimidation, manipulation and eventually, 11 murders over a four-year period.
And yesterday, the judge found the remaining three accused persons, Zak Valentine, Cecilia
Steyn and Marcel Steyn guilty on almost all the charges brought against them.
Also Read:
In order to convict the accused on charges of racketeering, the State had to prove that the
group was managed and run as an enterprise, with Cecilia as the manager of this enterprise.
This was one of the big issues during the trial, as the accused disputed that their group was
ever a ministry or an enterprise.
Judge Jacob explained how organised crime works as a business and how the roles in
business sometimes change.
Cecilia Steyn was found guilty on 30 charges. Photos: Michelle Swart.
He went on to say that this case was a matter of religious manipulation, murder and lies, a
matter of evil against good, a matter of a supposed 42nd-generation witch who manipulated
people to believe her religious ideas.
The Judge said this case is just a reminder of the dangers people face in religious cults these
days.
“It is almost like this witch cast a spell to get innocent people to follow her. I cannot
understand how they could kill and then carry on with their lives,” he said.
He explained that almost all of the witnesses believed Cecilia when she said she had spiritual
problems and all of them had heard about the orphanage.
During high nights, the group from the Know Your Enemy course would pray and help
prevent spiritual attacks on Cecilia, and Judge Jacob said this constant spiritual protection
eventually became a ministry on its own.
He said it became apparent that Cecilia had not only grown dependent on the income she
received from members of the group, but had become used to the lifestyle.
“I am satisfied, based on the evidence before me, that the Electus Per Deus group fits neatly
into what an enterprise is. They were given a specific name and purpose,” Judge Jacob said.
He added that feedback meetings held by the group after the crimes are the only way some of
the witnesses could have known about incidents they were not involved in. Some of the
threatening messages also contained intimate details of the crimes and could not have been
sent by someone who did not know what was going on.
Cecilia was found guilty on 30 charges brought against her, while Zak was found guilty on 23
charges. Marcel was declared guilty on 19 charges. These charges include racketeering,
managing an enterprise, 11 murders, conspiracy to commit murder, theft, fraud and
possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Judge Jacob said although Marinda pleaded guilty, she was called by Cecilia to testify and it
was clear from this testimony that Marinda is the type of person who would not shy away
from lying under oath to see Marcel and Cecilia freed.
The youngest accused, Marcel Steyn, was found guilty on 19 charges. Photo: Michelle Swart
He explained that there was sufficient evidence to show that Marinda was lying to get Cecilia
and Marcel off. This was further corroborated by Marcel’s testimony. This plan,
unfortunately for her, backfired.
He went on to say that it was evident from the evidence that Le Roux Steyn and John Barnard
took full responsibility for their actions and he found them to be honest, truthful witnesses.
He explained that Zak was a poor witness and made a bad impression. Except for a bad
denial, his version of events was never put to the other witnesses to corroborate or dismiss.
His excuses included acting under hypnosis or a supernatural spell.
“The evidence against Zak is simply overwhelming,” said Judge Jacob.
He explained that during her testimony, Cecilia denied everything. She even said she’d read
about the murders in the newspaper and that is how she knew of them.
“She aimed to create the impression that she was an innocent law-abiding person who had for
no reason been implicated in these awful murders,” he said. He explained that her evidence
amounts to a bad denial.
“It is clear Cecilia had lied to and manipulated all the people around her. It is indisputable
that she is a pathological liar and a skilled manipulator,” Judge Jacob went on to say.
According to him, she was an evasive witness who had abused the generosity of others.
“I accept that Satanism is not an offence in this country, but she used it to her benefit,” he
explained.
He said this was a religious scam like so many others seen in our country and in order to
make it believable, Cecilia had to play the part, and to keep up appearances, huge amounts of
money were needed. He said her actions could only be compared to that of a religious cult.
He said in June 2012, Marcel was already 14 years and seven months old, which meant she
was aware of what she was doing.
The evidence reveals that she had the tattoo and lived with Cecilia. She was aware of
meetings and planning sessions. She committed some of these crimes, starting in 2012.
“She might have been young and naïve, but the killing of innocent people can never be
condoned this way,” he said.
He described her as highly intelligent and said the timing of her testimony is extremely
suspicious and appears to be a tactical manoeuvre.
The sentencing date will be determined soon.

The Krugersdorp killings explained: Who
was murdered, how, and why
2019-06-05 07:00
Riaan Grobler
Cecilia Steyn. (Getty Images/Gallo Images)
The remaining members of the so-called "Krugersdorp Killers" were found guilty of 32
counts between them - including murder, fraud, racketeering, and robbery - by the Gauteng
High Court in Johannesburg on Monday.
The group which called themselves Electus per Deus (Chosen by God) murdered 11 people
between 2012 and 2016.
On Monday, Cecilia Steyn, 38, Zak Valentine, 34, and Marcel Steyn, 21, were found guilty
by Judge Jacob Francis.
Marcel's mother, former schoolteacher Marinda Steyn, is serving 11 life terms and 115 years
in jail after pleading guilty.
Marcel's elder brother Le Roux Steyn was also a part of the group, but entered into a plea
bargain with the State in May last year. He was found guilty of seven murders and sentenced
to 35 years for each of them. Ten years of his sentence were suspended on condition that he
testified at the trial.
Another member of the group, John Barnard, is serving 20 years after he was sentenced in
2016.
Greed, revenge, religious extremism and manipulation underpinned the group's motives.
Marinda Steyn. (Felix Dlangamandla, Netwerk24, file)
How it all started
The saga started in 2012 when Cecilia Steyn infiltrated a religious group called Overcomers
Through Christ (OTC) under the guise of being in need of deliverance from Satanism.
Valentine, his wife Mikeila and Marinda Steyn also joined the group.
Soon the relationship between Cecilia and the leader of OTC, Ria Grunewald, soured and
Cecilia became less involved in OTC.
Along with the Valentines and Marinda, Electus per Deus was formed, and together they
launched a series of attacks against members of OTC.
On July 2, 2012, they placed home-made bombs under the cars of people attending an OTC
course, but were nearly spotted and fled before they could ignite the explosives.
Later that month, the group started a fire and damaged windows at the Lighthouse Christian
Centre in Randburg.
A note written by Cecilia was placed on the gate of the centre, which said: "Ria, who is going
to protect you now?"
In July and August, various threats were sent by SMS to OTC members and other people
associated with Grunewald.
On July 11 that year, Cecilia and her accomplices successfully set off explosives near cars at
an OTC meeting.
The first murders
As Cecilia became more obsessed with executing revenge on Grunewald, she falsely accused
Natacha Burger - an active member of OTC - of praying the so-called "danger prayer" that
led to the death of various young children.
She then convinced the Valentines to kill Burger. So, on July 26, 2012, the Valentines
entered the home of Joy Boonzaier, a close friend of Burger, and made her write a note
asking Burger to come to her Wierdapark flat when she returned from work.
When Burger arrived, the Valentines stabbed her and Boonzaier to death.
Le Roux Steyn. (Gallo Images)
The next victim was Reginald John Edwin Bendixon, a semi-retired pastor and a long-time
friend of Grunewald. He occasionally presented lectures at OTC.
Grunewald regarded Bendixon as her mentor, and Cecilia, once again vengeful following the
disintegration of her and Grunewald's relationship, began planning to have him killed.
On August 13, 2012, Zak Valentine and Marinda Steyn, disguised as police officers, entered
Bendixon's home and attacked him with a hand axe. He died after being stabbed multiple
times. Marinda Steyn would later, in court, describe her first murder as "exciting" and an
"adrenaline rush".
At this point, Mikeila Valentine had become disillusioned with the group's activities and
wanted out. Now a liability, her husband Zak and Cecilia decided to kill her.
Zak Valentine made sure he had an alibi by going to work on the day of the murder on
October 4, 2012. Before leaving the house, he put some kind of tranquilliser in Mikeila's
coffee. He had given Marinda a set of house keys and a gate remote. That Thursday morning,
Marinda and her daughter, Marcel, who was 14 at the time, killed Mikeila by smashing her
skull with a blunt object and stabbing her several times as she lay on her bed. She was 25.
Cecilia then planned to have Ria's son, Joshua Grunewald, murdered, but the three men she
tasked with the killing never carried it out.
Running out of money
After being dormant for a while, Electus per Deus started running out of money. Zak
Valentine had already contributed R2m of his own money, but had quit his job and started his
own venture, borrowing money from his parents and in-laws.
The group believed that the money was needed for an orphanage run by Cecilia, though the
orphanage never existed.
Cecilia then devised a scheme to obtain money through insurance fraud, theft and murder.
The group, believing they were committing these crimes for a "good cause", participated in
good faith.
Barnard, who was sentenced in 2016, set up a meeting between his employer, Peter Meyer,
and members of the group, seemingly to discuss a "business venture".
On November 27, 2015, Valentine, Marinda and Marcel arrived at Meyer's home, tied him
and his wife up and demanded money. The couple didn't have much money on them and were
subsequently stabbed to death.
Faking Zak's death for insurance money
Cecilia's next scheme involved faking Zak Valentine's death to get a life insurance payout of
R3.57m.
They befriended a street vendor by the name of Jarod Jackson. On December 16, 2015,
Jackson, together with Barnard, Marinda and Le Roux, left for the Free State in two cars -
one being Valentine's Mercedes-Benz SLK.
On the way, Le Roux drugged and then strangled Jackson. On the R57 between Reitz and
Petrus Steyn, they parked Valentine's SLK in a veldt, placed Jackson in the driver's seat and
set the car alight.
Marcel Steyn, Cecilia Steyn and Zak Valentine. (Deaan Vivier, Netwerk24, file)
The following day, Marinda identified Jackson's charred remains as the body of Valentine,
thus obtaining a death certificate to secure the insurance payout. Cecilia was the main
beneficiary.
Valentine then booked himself into the Herberg Hotel in Krugersdorp as Jacques de Villiers,
using a fake ID. He hid here until April 2016, before moving to Kia Kaha Ministries in
Krugersdorp, where he was arrested on June 26, 2016.
Murder by appointment
The group then embarked on a series of appointment murders. They would set up an
appointment with an identified victim under false pretexts. Marinda, Le Roux and Barnard
would typically intimidate the victims into handing over their bank cards. Marcel would then
go to a nearby ATM and verify that the PIN was correct. Once confirmed, the victims would
be murdered.
The first victim was Glen McGregor, 57, a tax consultant from Randfontein. Marinda,
Marcel, Le Roux and Barnard met McGregor at his home on January 27, 2016, shot him and
forced him to transfer R6 000 into Marinda's account. He died from gunshot wounds.
Anthony Scolefield, 67, a tax consultant, was the group's next victim. The foursome lured
Scolefield to their flat in Krugersdorp and forced him at gunpoint to hand over his bank cards
and PINs. They withdrew R16 600 from his accounts and used his cards at various shops in
Krugersdorp.
Scolefield was eventually strangled and placed in the boot of his car, which was then
abandoned.
Similarly, Kevin McAlpine, 29, was lured to their Krugersdorp flat on May 26, 2016, and
forced to hand over his bank cards. R1 300 was withdrawn from his accounts. He, too, was
strangled and left in the boot of his car.
A few days later, on May 30, estate agent Hanlé Lategan, 52 was lured to the flat under the
pretence of a business meeting with a client.
She was similarly threatened and R3 000 was withdrawn from her account. Police had
cordoned off the area where Lategan had parked her car as she had been reported missing.
The foursome then placed Lategan's body in Marinda's car and dumped her body near the
Randfontein cemetery, where it was discovered the following day.
Pre-sentencing for the last three convicted members of Electus per Deus will take place on
August 12.
#KrugersdorpMurders – Zak Valentine

sentenced
Zak Valentine stood tall with a grim look on his face while Judge Francis handed down his
sentence.
It’s D-Day in the South Gauteng High Court with Judge Ellem Jacob Francis starting the
sentencing of the last remaining three accused in the case of the Krugersdorp murders which
shocked not only the community of Krugersdorp, but the country as a whole.
After being found guilty on 32 counts earlier this year, the first to hear his fate was 34-year-
old Zak Valentine.
Earlier last week, Valentine’s social worker testified that he believed he was framed for the
crimes and that someone had to be implicated to bring closure to a very public case.
A calm en composed Valentine listened as Judge Francis handed down his sentence – eight
life sentences, to run concurrently, with 78 years collectively, also to run concurrently with
the life sentences, for the other counts against him.
The next to hear her fate is Cecilia Steyn who is considered the mastermind behind these
heinous crimes.
After hearing that accused Zak Valentine will spend eight life sentences in prison, Judge Ellem Jacob
Francis moved on to Cecilia Steyn, who is considered to be the mastermind behind these heinous
crimes.
Until this day, the 38-year-old Cecilia maintained that she is innocent and a victim in this
highly publicised case. Steyn feels that the media has sensationalised the case and allegedly
explained that it was as if the media had been granted power to destroy people without
knowing anything about them.
She told the social worker that the Judge should call upon God to come testify if the court is
not content with her version of events.
Cecilia in her usual black jacket and checkered shirt, with her signature thinning spiky hair,
stared straight ahead as Judge Francis sentenced her to 13 life sentences, to run concurrently
with 152 years (also to run concurrently) for the other counts against her, in prison.
The youngest of the remaining three accused, Marcel Steyn heard her fate next as D-Day has
dawned for these accused.
It is no secret that when discussing the crime of the century and its youngest accused, Marcel Steyn,
many believed she will receive the lightest sentence of all the accused.
Marcel became involved in the crimes when she was still very young. Rosalind McNab, an
educational and counselling psychologist, testified earlier this week that she felt Marcel had
played a lesser part when the crimes were committed. McNab explained that she found that
Marcel suppressed her own ideas, thinking they are not good enough. She has a strong
longing to relate to others, but may also willingly submit to others, and may have learned to
avoid emotional experiences and suppress certain events.
Marcel said she had questioned the group only once, but because of the remorse she felt when
she realised what the group had done, she had to tell the truth when testifying in court.
Judge Ellem Jacob Francis handed down his final sentencing to the 21-year-old Marcel who
tried not to show too much emotion. Judge Francis sentenced her to seven life sentences, to
run concurrently, with 144 years for the other counts, to also run concurrently.
Shortly thereafter, Judge Francis dismissed court.
With the trial of the century coming to an end, those who were involved were left exhausted
and depleted, with many in court whispering and asking if justice prevailed.

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The Krugersdorp Killers

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Family and neighbours stand trial for

deaths of church members and

The case is expected to last till June 29.

IN THE DOCK ARE:

Soft-spoken and well-liked. An insurance broker. Graduated from North-West University

Also read: Magistrate scolds triple murder accused

Triple murder accused now charged with 11

Other charges, including racketeering, aggravated assault, being in possession of an

April 17, 2018

Some interesting facts from the previous court appearances:

Read here: Triple murder accused pleads guilty

• 10 May 2016: Anthony Scholefield (64) as found murdered in Krugersdorp. He was

May 17, 2018

Here are some of the facts:

Marinda Steyn, the woman convicted of murdering 11 people.

During court proceedings, many referred to Marinda’s uncanny resemblance to Daisy de

• Leroux Steyn (22)

He was sentenced to 35 years immediate imprisonment with a 10-year suspended sentence.

• Marcel Steyn (19)

Krugersdorp killers: Trial postponed to

The alleged Krugersdorp killers. (Canny Maphanga, News24)

The accused will remain in custody.

Le Roux, who is a State witness, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in May.

Both had entered plea bargains with the State.

Krugersdorp killers strangled most victims

Most of the murders were orchestrated in a similar fashion.

In most cases‚ they were strangled to death by Le Roux.

An amount of R16‚600 was withdrawn using Scholefield's various bank cards.

Both McAlpine and Lategan were strangled to death by Le Roux.

"Finding the car in an area like that was easier."

The group had run low on money at that stage.

#KrugersdorpMurders – trial starts with

Le Roux Steyn during his appearance in May. File pic.

Le Roux’s first day of cross-examination in the #KrugersdorpMurders started on Thursday

Interesting yet disturbing info about the

This is a round-up of what has transpired so far.

• Le Roux Steyn’s testimony:

• John Barnard’s testimony:

• The testimonies of Peter and Joan Meyer’s children

• Joshua Grunewald’s testimony:

• A good friend of Cecilia’s testimony:

• Karen Luitingh’s testimony:

Krugersdorp killings: 'I put my oiled hands

Volbrecht then left the church.

Krugersdorp murders: House was ‘moving

She said a week before she died‚ Mikeila visited her.

Cecilia, had, according Grunewald, turned everyone against her.

She had no one to turn to.

The trial continues.

Background to the Krugersdorp murders

"She was angry at me."

Grunewald said she knew who those people were.

“I told him I did not see Reg on that day.”

Krugersdorp killings: Murder accused

Rijavic said Cecilia watched "exceptionally disturbing" satanic movies.

Krugersdorp killers: 'Every cent I own, I

The other document was a will. Both documents were handwritten.

Krugersdorp killings: Murder accused

Volbrecht then left the church.

Krugersdorp killings: 'Calm' husband

"We heard him scream‚ saying: 'Liefie‚ oh no‚ liefie'.

"He was so calm. We were shaking."