Tall and thin, his shoulders stooped, and frightened eyes fixed on the floor, he walks into a Stellenbosch courtroom, takes off his blue and white beanie and takes his seat in the dock.
JACOBUS EKSTEEN isn’t accompanied by anyone in court today - and his family, still on their way from Upington, are completely devastated he’s in the dock at all.
After all, he’s well educated and from a prominent family - both his parents are doctors, and in matric he scored six distinctions and the second-highest marks in the Northern Cape. He turned 24 this year and is in the final year of his Bachelor of Accountancy degree.
Now he stands accused of kidnapping and murder.
Erin van Rensburg (20) was pretty, funny and wise for her age, her mother, Helen, recalls. Well loved and with a wide circle of friends, she was popular and easygoing with people.
Jacobus, on the other hand, was an enigma, even to his handful of friends. They still can’t believe he would harm anyone.
“He was always such a joker,” a friend who prefers to remain anonymous says. “He’s really a good person, someone with integrity you can count on. We’re all shocked because he was never aggressive. We hope he’s innocent.”
Marieta Eksteen says her son is highly intelligent “but as a child always kept to himself. He likes chatting to older people. He’s a lovely child but not everyone’s friend. He’s very private and has just a few friends he gets on well with. Sometimes his best friend is his computer.
“He’s a perfectionist and very correct and doesn’t allow strangers in his private space.”
Erin’s older brother, Byron, was probably his closest friend at Stellenbosch in the past six years. They played cards, braaied and watched rugby together.
Now Byron and his family are mourning their much-loved Erin who made them laugh a lot and, in dad Errol’s words, was small in stature but had a big personality.
Marieta feels equally dejected. She’s desperately sad for Erin’s family and wants an opportunity to tell them how she regrets the tragic event.
* Don’t miss our full article including fascinating extracts from Jacobus’ Facebook profile, interviews with fellow students and details of Erin’s last hours (YOU, 18 June issue).
