Marike accusation changed my life, says dancing teacher

Report by Sapa

Cape Town – A CONFESSION implicating dancing teacher John Thebus in the murder of Marike de Klerk – the former wife of the former state president – traumatised him and changed his entire life.

Mr Thebus told the Cape High Court yesterday he had met Mrs De Klerk at a wedding about two years ago and they had danced and dined at her Dolphin Beach home on Monday nights.

He told the court his relationship with Mrs De Klerk had been platonic and revolved around dancing. His Monday evening meetings with her included meals she prepared for them.

He told the court he had been detained and questioned by the police as a result of a confession made to magistrate Hennie le Roux by Luyanda Mboniswa, 21, a security guard at Mrs De Klerk’s townhouse complex and the man accused of her murder. In the confession, Mr Mboniswa alleged Mr Thebus had murdered Mrs De Klerk and had sought Mr Mboniswa’s help to gain secret access to her home. Mr Thebus said police had taken samples from him for forensic analysis and subjected him to a lie-detector test before releasing him. Mr Mboniswa is on trial in the Cape High Court for the alleged murder and has pleaded not guilty before Judge President John Hlophe to charges of murder, rape and robbery. In his confession, Mr Mboniswa claimed he had met Mr Thebus at a garage near the Dolphin Beach complex in Table View on the Friday preceding Mrs De Klerk’s death.

He claimed he had asked Mr Thebus for a lift to the complex, and Mr Thebus then asked Mr Mboniswa if he was interested in his (Mr Thebus’s) car. He said Mr Thebus had offered him the car for R20 000, but suggested they make a deal.

In the deal, Mr Mboniswa had to arrange access to the complex for Mr Thebus late at night.

He claimed that Mr Thebus had told him there was a lot of money that he was going to get inside the complex, as well as a new car.

Mr Thebus planned also to steal a Nobel Peace Prize trophy and, when Mr Mboniswa asked from whom he intended stealing this, Mr Thebus named Mrs De Klerk. Mr Mbonisa said in the confession he had gone to the Dolphin Beach complex that Sunday night with his girlfriend’s brother. On his way there, he noticed Mr Thebus’s car parked next to toilets at the complex.

Mr Mbonisa claimed that he and Mr Thebus had approached the complex and managed to avoid the security cameras.

He lifted Mr Thebus onto Mrs De Klerk’s balcony and Mr Thebus then hauled him up.

Mrs De Klerk’s flat was in darkness except for a light in her bedroom. Mr Thebus had a knife in his pocket. Mrs De Klerk became suspicious and got up to investigate when Mr Thebus pushed open the sliding door, which had not been locked properly.

Mr Thebus stabbed Mrs De Klerk when she opened the curtain at the sliding door to see what was happening. She ran away, but fell. Mr Thebus sat on her stomach and throttled her, and he (Mr Mboniswa) helped Thebus by holding Mrs De Klerk’s legs.

She was kicking her legs, but after a while she stopped. She was gasping and blood from her mouth splattered on his shirt.

The hearing continues today. – Sapa

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