MPUMALANGA incest accused Robert Jan Fedder, who hanged himself over the weekend, would have celebrated his 41st birthday this week.
Fedder was charged last year with living as man and wife for 15 years with one of his younger sisters, who gave birth to two sons.
“We should be celebrating his birthday, instead we are mourning his death,” said his other sister, Sonja Fedder, 21.
Family members arrived home in Delmas on Saturday morning after visiting relatives in Pretoria and found Fedder’s body hanging from his bedroom ceiling.
Provincial police representative Inspector Olga Ballot said Fedder left a suicide note and that police were investigating.
Fedder, his sister Heibrecht “Breggie” Fedder, 32, and their parents Elsina, 60, and Robert, 65, were to appear in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court in connection with the incest case on April 24.
The family was arrested on July 26 last year after a relative tipped off police about the allegedly incestuous affair.
Heibrecht and her late brother were charged with incest, while their parents are charged with concealing incest.
Investigating officer Yolanda Geldenhuys said the suicide would not hamper the case against the rest of the family.
Police are still waiting for the result of DNA tests.
The siblings allegedly produced two sons, aged seven and 14, who are in a place of safety and are expected to testify during the trial.
Detectives have been unable to confirm rumours that the couple produced about 10 children who died at childbirth or were miscarried.
Heibrecht Fedder recently got married in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court to a childhood friend nine years her junior.
She married Stefan Kamffer, 23, of Springs on September 11 last year and the marriage was officiated by Magistrate Adele Viljoen, who is also presiding over the incest case.
She lives in Springs with her husband. – African Eye News Service
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