Afrikaans Author and Academic Daan Wybenga Tortured to Death in Clarens

The much-loved Afrikaans author and academic Prof. Daan Wybenga, 69, has just been tortured to death in his house in Clarens, in the Free State. His body was found on Monday night in his home.

Wybenga is the latest casualty in South Africa’s spate of sadistic black-on-white murders, fueled by racial animosity and years of communist propaganda. His body was so badly mutilated that his son, Mr. Wim Wybenga, 37, could only recognise him by his hands.

According to him, the killers threw boiling water over his dad, hit him over the hand, tied up his hands and feet, and taped a plastic bag around his head to suffocate him.

“At the autopsy, my dad still had the plastic bag around his head and his hands and feet were tied up. His skin was burnt off and full of blisters. His face was also swollen,” said Mr. Wybenga.

His corpse was found in the bathroom, presumably because the hot water there was used to torture him. Making their victims drink hot water, or making them stand under hot showers is a favourite form of torture used by South Africa’s marauding black bandits. In the case of the massacre of the Viana family, in Walkerville, near Johannesburg, 12-year old Amaro Viana was drowned in a tub of hot water.

According to Mr. Wim Wybenga, his father was a loving man who deeply cared for others, even strangers.

“My father was well-liked man and gentle. Hy helped poor people. Every month he gave a large amount to charity. Everyone here knows one another and cares for each other. When something like this happens, it disturbs the harmony of the community.”

People in Clarens described him as a caring and respected man who was very fond of his vegetable garden. He took a special interest in an informal settlement inhabited by black people in Clarens and donated food and money to them.

His gold-coloured Toyota Corolla, cellphone, and music system were missing from the house.

Police were still searching for the murderers and appealed to the community to come forward with information. Charges of murder, house robbery, and vehicle theft were being investigated.

Prof. Wybenga was a linguist, author and also had a passion for theology.

From 1984 t0 1992 he lectured in Afrikaans and Dutch at the Northwest University’s Vaal Triangle campus and afterwards at the Sebokeng campus of Vista University.

He retired in 2003.

He published various academic books on the Afrikaans language.

Wybenga is survived by four children, Fernande, Christabe, Gea, Wim and two grandchildren.

The funeral will take place next Thursday at 12:00 at the Reformed Church in the nearby town of Bethlehem.