NATIONAL NEWS - A 67-year-old woman was found murdered at her home in Cathkin Park, in the Drakensberg on Sunday, almost three decades after her father was murdered in the same area.
Sandy Willcox’s body was found by her brother, Dave Willcox, at her house, after several people could not get hold of her.
How Dave Willcox found his sister
Wilcox says they suspect that his sister had been murdered on Friday night.
She was supposed to preach at All Saints Anglican Church in Winterton on Sunday but did not arrive and had not been answering her phone either. Wilcox says he was called and went to investigate and found his sister’s body inside the house.
“She had been strangled and beaten on the head. The sliding door was left open, and we suspect they might’ve just walked in. They took her purse, cell phone and car keys but left the car. The remote-controlled gate was not working at the time and I think they couldn’t steal it [her car].”
Willcox says his sister was a churchgoer and played a strong role in the community. Although she wasn’t a preacher, she would give sermons at church on numerous occasions.
Before her death she had been part of a mission in Ethiopia for 15 years.
Willcox says their father was attacked and murdered in the same area 29 years ago and his tenant that lived opposite his sister’s house was also attacked two years ago but survived.
He says they were still hoping the people responsible for his father’s death and those that attacked his tenant would be found, but there haven’t been any arrests yet.
“I was so shocked to find her in that state and couldn’t believe it. She died in a brutal way. It must’ve been someone filled with so much rage,” says Willcox.
Those that knew Sandy says she was a person of integrity and they are shocked by her death.
Willcox’ reverend speaks on her death
Reverend Vimba Mazibuko, from the All Saints Anglican Church in Winterton, which Willcox attended, says the whole church community is shocked and saddened by her death.
Mazibuko says she had a preaching session scheduled for Sunday and they started worrying when she didn’t show up for it.
‘She did ministry at the church and on Sunday it was her turn. Usually, she would send me her recording on Saturday but, this time around, she didn’t. That’s when I tried to reach her but failed to do so. We continued to check on Sunday and then heard the tragic news.”
Police had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.
