Killer DJ running business from prison?

One of the country’s most notorious murderers, Knysna DJ Heinrich van Rooyen, has allegedly been running a business, operating a YouTube channel and updating his LinkedIn page — all from inside his prison cell.

Van Rooyen, imprisoned for life after he killed two waitresses almost two decades ago, was allegedly helping to run the family construction business from a cellphone which was found in his cell at the Medium B section of the St Albans prison.

The department of correctional services, which confiscated the cellphone, said Van Rooyen would now undergo a disciplinary hearing.

On Friday, the LinkedIn profile, along with its associated posts, was removed. However, the reporter had taken screenshots of the content earlier in the week.

The name of the YouTube channel is Hein Jones. Jones is the surname of Van Rooyen’s partner.

The last post on this account was in 2022. 

The business is called I&R Construction and Building Supplies.

I&R are the initials of Van Rooyen’s parents, Isaac and Rebecca.

Van Rooyen was 25 when he was sentenced on May 14 2008 for murder, conspiracy to commit murder indecent assault and malicious damage to property after the harrowing killings, which rocked the small Garden Route community where he was well known.

Over the years, many experts have questioned his guilt, advocating for his acquittal and release from prison, with Facebook pages and campaigns started for the same cause.

But their arguments — that it could not have been him who killed Jessica Wheeler and Victoria Stadler — have fallen flat. 

Wheeler, 19, was found dead on October 13 2005 at St George’s Anglican Church in Main Street, Knysna.

She had suffocated when her face was pressed into the dirt.

Less than a month later, on November 10 2005, Stadler, 20, was reported missing and the murders of both young women quickly grabbed headlines.

The women had frequented the same clubs — where Van Rooyen, who also goes by “Hein”, was the DJ.

On the night of her disappearance, Stadler and her boyfriend had been at Stones nightclub, where she was seen speaking to Van Rooyen.

Her body was discovered five days later in the bushes between Hornlee and the Noetzie River.

Van Rooyen maintained his innocence throughout.

Correctional Services provincial spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana said prison officials had conducted a search of Van Rooyen’s cell earlier this month and retrieved the cellphone in question.

“The offender was positively identified and the phone was confiscated during a regular search operation at the centre, conducted by the management area security intervention team (MSIRT),” Gantana said.

“It has been confirmed by the MSIRT leader that the cellphone is with them.”

Gantana said the cellphone number linked to the SIM card belonged to Van Rooyen’s daughter in Cape Town.

“The daughter confirmed to the head of the correctional centre that she is the one who is trading on Gumtree for the family business, and that her father [Van Rooyen] assists them telephonically from the correctional centre when they experience challenges with the business.

“The offender will be subjected to the disciplinary processes in terms of the Correctional Services Act.”

The Weekend Post understands the daughter referred to by the department is in fact Van Rooyen’s girlfriend’s daughter.

When the reporter attempted to call the number, the phone had already been switched off and went straight to voicemail.

The man in the voicemail says: “Hi, this is Hein ... please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you, or alternatively call our secretary at [number redacted].”

The number mentioned in the voicemail belongs to Van Rooyen’s girlfriend.

When the reporter contacted the girlfriend, whose name is known to Weekend Post, she said she had her own business which had been registered four years ago, and denied working with Van Rooyen.

On I&R’s business profile, the girlfriend’s name and number are listed as the point of contact, along with another woman named “Marlise”.

When the reporter again called the number of the cellphone allegedly found in Van Rooyen’s possession, Marlise answered the phone.

When asked to speak to Van Rooyen, she said: “I think you have the wrong number.”

Marlise is the name of Van Rooyen’s girlfriend’s daughter.

When you Google the number, LinkedIn posts pops up for a Hein Jones. However, on Friday, when the reporter clicked on the posts, it was no longer accessible. 

One of the posts states: “... Well done I&R.”

In another post, “Hein Jones” asks for donations for Dillyn van Rooyen. Dillyn is Van Rooyen’s 21-year-old son.

According to the LinkedIn profile, Jones is self-employed and has worked at I&R Consulting and Building Supplies for just more than three years.

Two clients of I&R, whom Weekend Post managed to track down, claimed they had lost money doing business with the company, but had not gone to the police because they had been assured they would be refunded. 

A lawyer, who previously represented Van Rooyen and did not want to be drawn into the matter, said Van Rooyen contacted him at least twice a year.

He said he had no knowledge of the fresh allegations, but “anything is possible”.

Explaining why Van Rooyen had not yet been considered for parole after all these years, the lawyer said: “To be eligible for parole, one needs to admit guilt and demonstrate remorse, both of which Van Rooyen did not do.”

In one of the YouTube videos allegedly posted by Van Rooyen, is a song by rapper T.I. and Rihanna called Live Your Life.

The song has sound effects such as police sirens and the closing of a jail door.

The video allegedly posted by Van Rooyen then features an advertisement promoting clay blocks.

Gqeberha attorney Dean Murray explained that a formal investigation was dealt with internally by correctional services, and not in a court.

“If found guilty, internal sanctions will likely be imposed, potentially leading to the revocation of certain privileges governed by a credit system, such as TV access, unrestricted movement and library use.

“It is noteworthy that while this [alleged] misdemeanour may affect his current privileges, it may not adversely affect his eligibility for parole, given his existing sentence for double murder.”

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