It’s the Usual War Crimes, in South Africa: Blacks Gang-Rape and Murder White, 86-Year-Old Austrian Nun; 3 Suspects Arrested; Police Cover-Story: "Robbery"

 

War crime victim Sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher, listed variously as 86 or 87 (Facebook)
 

Re-posted by Nicholas Stix

Thanks to reader-researcher Jerry PDX, who writes,

I don't know if there any words for this one.

I could find no pictures or actual names of the perps.

Nun, 86, gang-raped, killed in South African convent
By Lee Moran
April 22, 2015, 8:37 A.M.
Updated: April 22, 2015, 8:37 A.M.
New York Daily News

Sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher, 86, was found dead in a South African convent Sunday after burglars sexually assaulted her.

An elderly nun was savagely gang-raped and then murdered in her own bedroom at a South African convent, police say.

Sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher was bound and gagged with an electric typewriter cord after bandits broke into the Sacred Heart Missionary in Ixopo. Her body was found Sunday.

The thieves stole cash from the 86-year-old, then sexually assaulted and killed her, reports the Independent Online.

The sister's remains were found by another nun at the convent, 85 miles southwest of Durban.

Cops are now hunting for the gang.

"We are following all leads. We are also appealing to the community to come forward with any information that will help us solve this case," police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said.
 

Small town Ixopo, South Africa, is where the horrific crime happened. (Google Maps)
 

Tributes have been paid to Sister Gertrud, who was born in Austria but spent more than 60 years working at the South African missionary.

"She had a very kind heart and was loved by everyone," fellow mission Sister Gerald said.

"I met sister in 1952, when I started teaching at a school attached to the mission. We worked very closely together. She loved her work with children," friend Betty Firmstone said.

"This really was an act of savagery against a gentle, caring soul," she added.
 

Verified
Murder: 3 black men arrested for rape/murder of Sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher, Austrian nun 86, who taught children at Sacred Heart mission for 60 years
01:57 Apr 29 2015 Ixopo, South Africa
Farmitracker

Description

29 April 2015: UPDATE: Three black men arrested for murder of sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher, 86 of Sacred Heart Convent in Ixopo, KZN on 18 April 2015:

http://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=4606

April 29 2015 - "The KwaZulu-Natal police made a breakthrough yesterday when they arrested three (black) suspects who were allegedly involved in the killing of a sister at the Sacred Heart Convent in Ixopo. The arrested suspects aged between 25 and 35 are due to appear in the Ixopo Magistrates Court tomorrow facing murder, house robbery and rape charges. During their arrest, they were found in possession of some of the stolen property which were positively identified as property belonging to the victim. It is alleged that on 18 April 2015, at about 19:00, Gertrud Tiefenbacher (86), a sister at Sacred Heart Convent was found dead in her room. It is alleged that the victim was at her residence when she was approached by the suspects who allegedly tied her hands with an electric typewriter cord.

She was also covered with a towel over her face, causing the victim to suffocate. It is alleged that foreign currency had been taken from Tiefebacher’s room. It is also suspected that the victim was raped before she was killed. The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the task team for their hard work that led to the arrest of the suspects. “We believe that some of the missing goods will be recovered as the members are still investigating the matter. I also wish to thank members of the community who responded to my call and provided information to the police which aided in the arrest of the suspects,” she said. Media enquiries: Major Thulani Zwane - 071 683 6525 kzn.mediacentre@saps.gov.za

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SAPoliceService

Website: www.saps.gov.za
Media Statement from KwaZulu Natal Media Centre Corporate Communication

=======================
KZN convent in shock after nun's brutal murder
2015-04-22 10:48
Amil Umraw, The Witness

Pietermaritzburg - “Her rosary was wrapped around her wrists and she was clutching onto the cross when we found her.”

This is how fellow sisters from an Ixopo convent discovered the body of one of their elderly and most beloved members, Gertrud Tiefenbacher, 87.

The octogenarian was murdered in her room during the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police are on the hunt for the suspects involved in the murder, appealing to the Ixopo community for information regarding their whereabouts.

Tiefenbacher was found dead on the floor next to her bed in her room at the Sacred Heart Home in Ixopo, with the cord of her electronic typewriter binding her hands together and a wet towel, believed to have been used to suffocate her, over her face.

Police believe that Tiefenbacher was also raped by her killer, but a source close to the investigation said they are awaiting forensic reports before this can be confirmed.

Motherly figure

Known to those close to her as Stefani, Tiefenbacher was described by her convent sisters as a motherly figure with a young heart. Born in Austria in 1928, Tiefenbacher lived with a foster family on a small farm before she came to South Africa in 1952.

“She was a people’s person and held the impoverished and the young children in the community close to her heart,” said Sister Gerald Frye.

“It was very shocking to us. How can people come right into the heart of the convent and do this in God’s home?”

Tiefenbacher was a Missionary Sister of the Precious Blood for more than 60 years, and worked at the Little Flower School as a teacher and secretary for 40 of those years until 1992.

According to other sisters, she enjoyed spending her days typing letters to past students, sisters and relatives on her typewriter.

Anxious voices

Frye said she was asleep when she heard the anxious voices of fellow sisters calling Tiefenbacher’s name outside the door of her bedroom just before 03:00 on Sunday morning.

The nuns, who had noticed that Tiefenbacher’s door was ajar, were nervously whispering “Sister Stefani, Sister Stefani?” said Frye. They entered when they failed to receive any answer, and discovered her body.

“We all stood along the stairway and prayed for her as the police took away her body,” said Frye.

Frye believes the killers cut a hole in the outer fence of the Roman Catholic Church premises that house the convent and entered through a side door that one of the sisters forgot to lock.

The suspects ransacked the pantry, taking fruit, alcohol and other groceries.

They also made off with Tiefenbacher’s money - about €2 000 (R26 000).

Sister Christopher Kneringer said they were all sitting together playing cards with Tiefenbacher the night before her murder.

“She was a stout lady who loved her meals. She was very generous. She was ever ready to do something for someone else,” one of the sisters said.

Dream

Frye said that even though the sisters are mourning her death, they have come to peace with it after one, who was very close to Tiefenbacher, dreamt of her on Monday.

Sister Regina said that in her dream Tiefenbacher came through the door of the convent and gave her a big hug, saying that she did not get a chance to say goodbye.

Tiefenbacher is survived by a younger sister and brother in Austria, who have been notified of her death.

Frye said she had been inundated with calls from Austrian media and from Tiefenbacher’s distraught former students.

“This shows that people can take our human life but never our eternal life that God has prepared for us.

“She is in a better place now,” Frye said.

Anyone with information about the murder should contact officer Thembelihle Hlangu at 076 828 9582, Warrant Officer Zindela Madondo at 076 919 0372; or Crime Stop at 086 001 011
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/nun-86-murdered-in-kzn-convent-1.1848206

Sacred Heart Home
PO Box 7, Ixopo 3276
Tel: (039) 834 1106
Intenational: +27 39 834 1106
Fax: (039) 834 2758
International fax: +27 39 834 2758
==========

Task Team to investigate rape/murder of Sister Gertrud Tiefebacher, 86, in Ixopo KZN on 18/04.
"Sister Gertrud Tiefebacher, 86, was in her residence when she was approached by suspects who tied her hands with a typewriter cord.

Her face with covered with a towel, causing her to suffocate. It is alleged that foreign currency was taken from sister Tiefebacher's room.

It is also suspected that she was raped before she was killed.'
http://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/selnewsdetails.php?nid=4592
===========

Foreign news media links Sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher's murder and gang-rape by black male attackers at South african convent to the wave of attacks against foreigners:

Malta newspaper: " Elderly Austrian nun Gertrud Tiefenbacher, 86, gang-raped, murdered in South African convent. " Police have launched a manhunt for a group of men who are believed to have broken into the convent at the weekend.

22 April 2015 Sister Gertrud Tiefenbacher, 86, has been gang-raped and murdered by robbers for a small amount of money in South Africa.

Police said Sister Tiefenbacher was found dead by another nun at the Sacred Heart Home, in the eastern town of Ixopo.

The nun, an Austrian immigrant, had been gagged and bound with a cord from an electric typewriter.

Police have launched a manhunt for a group of black men who are believed to have broken into the convent at the weekend.

According to Sister Gerald, another nun at the mission, the octogenarian had dedicated her life to uplifting the community.

She had been at the mission for the past sixty years. She was especially fond of her work with impoverished children.

“She had a very kind heart and was loved by everyone.” The murder came as the South African government mobilised soldiers to keep the peace in areas hit by a spate of violent attacks targeting immigrants.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/world/52126/elderly_austrian_nun_gangraped_murdered_in_south_african_convent#.VThDptLtlBc
==================

Murder: An Austrian nun, 86 who has been at the Ixopo mission in South Africa for the past sixty years working among the poor, was attacked inside her own quarters at the Sacred Heart mission, tied up, gagged, raped and strangled to death. However the police emphasized that she was 'robbed'. A woman who has taken a vow of poverty doesn't have much to 'rob'.
========================================

reported by Suthentira Govender

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/04/20/elderly-nun-robbed-raped-strangled-in-ixopo
===========================

20 april, 2015 The South african police are combing a small KwaZulu-Natal midlands town for the killers of an elderly Austrian nun‚ who was allegedly raped and strangled over the weekend.
Although it's claimed she was 'robbed', the Austrian nun worked closely with poor people and having taken a vow of poverty only carried a small amount of cash.

The 86-year-old nun was found gagged and bound with a typewriter cord‚ in her quarters at the Sacred Heart Mission in Ixopo‚ police said on Monday.

The Austrian immigrant‚ who has been with the mission for 60 years‚ was found by another nun on Sunday morning.

She was alone in her room when the robbers struck‚ tied her up, the police believe she also was raped before she was strangled to death.

“Rape is also suspected in this matter. The victim was found tied with a typewriter cord. She was also gagged‚” said police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane.

It is understood that the nun worked closely with impoverished children in the community‚ and was described by her fellow nuns as having a “kind heart and love for children”.

-RDM News Wire http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/04/20/elderly-nun-robbed-raped-strangled-in-ixopo

Murder: Austrian nun, 86 murdered: gagged, tied up, raped, strangled in her own quarters, Sacred Heart Mission, in Ixopo

reported by Suthentira Govender http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/04/20/elderly-nun-robbed-raped-strangled-in-ixopo

20 april, 2015 The South african police are combing a small KwaZulu-Natal midlands town for the killers of an elderly Austrian nun‚ who was allegedly raped and strangled over the weekend.

The mission is located at Margaret Street, Ixopo, Pietermaritzburg, KZN. telephone: (039) 834-1106

Although it's claimed she was 'robbed', the Austrian nun worked closely with poor people and having taken a vow of poverty only carried a small amount of cash.

The 86-year-old nun was found gagged and bound with a typewriter cord‚ in her quarters at the Sacred Heart Mission in Ixopo‚ police said on Monday.

The Austrian immigrant‚ who has been with the mission for 60 years‚ was found by another nun on Sunday morning.

She was alone in her room when the robbers struck‚ tied her up, the police believe she also was raped before she was strangled to death.

“Rape is also suspected in this matter. The victim was found tied with a typewriter cord. She was also gagged‚” said police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane.

It is understood that the nun worked closely with impoverished children in the community‚ and was described by her fellow nuns as having a “kind heart and love for children”.

-RDM News Wire http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/04/20/elderly-nun-robbed-raped-strangled-in-ixopo


background:
Sacred Heart Home (Ixopo)

The Sacred Heart Home in Ixopo (Ubuhlebezwe Municipality) has a long history. Already in 1923 it opened its doors to the sisters who had come to offer their missionary service to the largely coloured community of the area.

Although a community with many elderly sisters, our CPS there are active and involved in many forms of service:

Educational ministry at Little Flower School
Pastoral Care at the Christ the King Hospital
Prayer Ministry

Sacred Heart Home is also the home of our Province’s noviciate and thus serves as a formation house for young women aspiring to join our Congregation (see Formation).

Another noteworthy feature is the “Educational Outreach Program” that has been run for over 12 years now on a Saturday morning. Here children and adolescents gather, who come from disadvantaged families of the area and who did not have the benefit of education because of financial constraints. Volunteers work with them and try to grow them holistically so that they can become

Contact: 039 834 1106 shhixopo@futurenet.co.za
News Source Link
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/04/20/elderly-nun-robbed-raped-strangled-in-ixopo
http://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/selnewsdetails.php?nid=4592
http://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=4606

Read more at http://www.censorbugbear.org/farmitracker/reports/view/3548#qp6XjIl82IoOOlde.99