Marike de Klerk is found murdered

Date: 4 Dec 2001
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Former South African first lady, Marike de Klerk, was found murdered at her luxury beachfront apartment in Cape Town. The ex-wife of former South African president F.W. de Klerk was stabbed from behind and strangled to death. Her death shocked the nation and the world. Luyanda Mboniswa, a security guard at the complex accused of her murder, pleaded not guilty to all charges levelled against him. Though Mboniswa later alleged in court that the killing was masterminded by De Klerk's dance teacher, Justice Hlope ruled that there was no such evidence to sustain the claim. Mboniswa was found guilty on counts of housebreaking, robbery and murder by Judge President Hlope.

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How we know this

01theguardian, 'How South Africa's former first lady met a violent, lonely and bitter end', [Online] Available at: www.theguardian.com ,[Accessed on 20 November 2013]
02smh, 'Security guard guilty of killing De Klerk's ex-wife',[Online] Available at:www.smh.com.au,[Accessed on 20 November 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Marike de Klerk is found murdered. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013512

South African History Online (2011) 'Marike de Klerk is found murdered', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013512 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, Marike de Klerk is found murdered [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013512, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"Marike de Klerk is found murdered." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013512. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Marike de Klerk is found murdered." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013512.