Gonubie farmer, sangoma dead after 'cleansing ceremony' nightmare

Horrifying videos, apparently taken by a crazed farmer Fritz “Majeke” Joubert, 45, give some inkling into what drove him into a frenzy of violence in which he beat his sangoma trainer, Anele Hoyana, 40, to death with the butt of a rifle.

Police confirmed the fatal beating at Geluksdal farm, Brakfontein near Gonubie, and added that one of their officers shot and killed Joubert in self defence after the thickset power line contractor attacked him in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident happened when a “cleansing ceremony” turned violent.

The brutal events, which saw Joubert grab Hoyana's two children — one a two-week infant, the other a toddler of two years and lock them in a bathroom — were recorded in two macabre cellphone videos that Joubert posted on social media before his death.

The first video, filmed at 4.54am on Saturday, depicts a red-faced Joubert in a Bok jersey, his face shiny with sweat, taking imaginary viewers through his smart double-story farmhouse as he rants in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa about being “the chosen one”. In a slurred voice, he shouts “Amandla! Viva!” and swings the camera onto Hoyana, who sits head bowed in a chair at the bar.

Joubert, panting, proclaims: “Everyone thinks I am mal, but I want to show the world to know how Satan [points at Hoyana] sits there.”

In a second video there is mayhem as a bare-chested Joubert calls Hoyana's wife to “Kom kyk!” as he bludgeons Hoyana, who is on the ground, repeatedly with his rifle.

Joubert can be heard swearing and seen showing the middle finger. He shouts: “P**s, kyk, kyk ... Viva, Viva” while Mrs Hoyana screams hysterically in the background and calls out: “Anele!” 

In another picture on his Facebook page Joubert stands in camouflage with his fingers symbolising gangster-style guns, with three long-barrelled weapons, two of them with silencers screwed on, at his feet.

Another picture shows Joubert on his knees, head bowed, in traditional Xhosa regalia with a strap of blue beads around his neck, as an African, also in traditional gear, kisses the top of his head.

East London police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala told DispatchLIVE: “It is alleged that the farm owner, a 45-year-old male was with his sangoma friend and wife and two children who were residing temporarily on the farm, were socialising together in the early hours of Saturday when an argument came up.”

She said the argument escalated into a physical fight, which moved outside the house to the deck. “The farm owner assaulted the 40-year-old male friend with his fists and a rifle butt, resulting in the victim sustaining severe head injuries. When the police arrived they found him lying on his back with numerous head injuries, already passed on.”

She said police were investigating a case of murder and kidnapping, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating the killing of Joubert in a separate docket.

Mqala told DispatchLIVE that numerous phone calls were made by Joubert inviting neighbouring farmers to come and drink with him shortly before midnight. One of the videos was shared by one of these guests, and it was they who notified Bluewater and Gonubie police.

“Warrant Officer Hendrick Odendaal from Bluewater police responded and was the first person to arrive at the scene. He entered the residence and the farm owner allegedly said to him that “nobody is going to leave the farm premises today”. At that stage the farm owner had taken the friends' children hostage and locked them in the bathroom,” she said.

Mqala said a Constable Phillip Bam from Gonubie police station then arrived at the scene. “It is alleged that the farm owner then locked the door and instructed the police to place their firearms on the table. They did not comply with his instruction.”

Odendaal then spoke to Joubert while Bam went to the bathroom, where he found the two little boys. “Bam rescued both children and handed them to the mother.”

It appeared that while Bam was outside the house, Joubert attacked Odendaal.

“During the struggle one shot went off and hit the floor. Odendaal warned the farm owner, but without hesitation he attacked again. Odendaal fired one shot in self defence and during the struggle the bullet from his service pistol entered under the left arm and fatally wounded the attacker.”

Odendaal was rushed to hospital with a fractured nose and jaw.

Mqala said firearms and ammunition were found in the house — as well as “a big police flag”.

Joubert's former neighbour, Victor Badenhorst, trembled as he told of how he sold his farm after he was threatened by Joubert. “We fought after he opened a road for his trucks on my farm. He even locked me out from entering my farm. I had to leave my farm but in just the past week I heard he was telling people that he was going to shoot and kill me.”

Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Seissa Sontaga confirmed they were investigating the case.