The children of 46-year-old Naeema van der Vindt are seeking answers and justice after their mother was fatally shot at her boyfriend's residence in Kalksteenfontein on Sunday morning. The circumstances surrounding Naeema's death are shrouded in mystery, with her children suspecting foul play and appealing to the authorities for a thorough investigation.
Naeema resided with her boyfriend, Christopher Engelbrecht, in Gesiggie Street, Kalksteenfontein. She was shot and killed inside a wendy house on the property at approximately 9am on Sunday, 29 June 2025.
Engelbrecht, 50, who identified himself as Naeema's partner, told reporters that he is a former member of the 28s gang. He explained that while he was "mixed up in his younger days", he has since left that life behind. Engelbrecht stated that they had hosted a party the night before and were asleep when the shooting occurred.
Christopher explained: “It was her child’s birthday on Sunday, so she woke up around 8am and said she is going home to help with the birthday preparations. I told her it is fine, but I am going back to sleep. About 45 minutes later I heard the shooting, I was facing the wall so I did not see anyone. When I got to her I kept asking ‘Naeema what is going on?’ because I didn’t see the gunshot wound in her face, only the blood on her clothes. When I ran outside I saw nobody, the road was clean. Nobody heard any gunshots except me because they were sleeping. Her children are blaming me but I did nothing and I am giving my full co-operation to the police.”
However, Naeema's children, who have requested anonymity, have expressed doubts about Engelbrecht's account and suspect that he may have been involved in their mother's death. They highlight the fact that Naeema was a witness in an attempted murder case and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
One of Naeema's children said: “We found out about my mother’s passing when a family member of my mother’s boyfriend came to call us and said ‘your mother is dead’.”
The child further explained: “In the court case my mother was threatened and it was said ‘she must sleep’ because the sentencing was supposed to take place this week. We also suspect our mother’s boyfriend because what he is saying about what happened and how we found my mother is not adding up. We just want justice for our mother.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Bishop Lavis detectives are investigating a murder case.
Twigg reported: “Bishop Lavis police responded to a complaint of a shooting on Sunday morning, 29 June 2025, at about 09:18, and upon arrival on the scene in Gesiggie Street, Kalksteenfontein, they found the body of a female inside an informal dwelling with a gunshot wound to her face. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack is yet to be established. The unknown suspect/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.”
The police are appealing to anyone with information about the shooting to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.
The children of Naeema van der Vindt are left grieving and desperate for answers, urging the police to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice and uncover the truth behind their mother's untimely death. The circumstances surrounding the shooting, coupled with Naeema's involvement as a witness in an attempted murder case, have created a complex and concerning situation that demands a swift and decisive resolution.
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