WELL-KNOWN MEMBER OF JOBURG GAY COMMUNITY MURDERED

Barney Van Heerden, a well-known member of Johannesburg’s gay community, was found dead in his Orange Grove home on Monday morning.

According to sources, Van Heerden (39) was naked, had been tied-up in his bed and appeared to have been strangled.

Two used wine glasses and other signs of having entertained someone were reported to have been found in the house.

According The Star newspaper, the body was discovered by security guards who investigated when they spotted the house’s gate left open in the early hours of the morning.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident but there are concerns that Van Heerden, who had been known to use online dating sites, may have been killed following a date that went wrong or was possibly a victim of someone using dating sites to attack gay men.

There were no signs of forced entry, suggesting that Van Heerden knew his killer or had invited him in. The only item believed to be missing is Van Heerden’s laptop.

Mixael De Kock, communications expert and former host of gay radio programme BravoBrava, who was a close friend, said that he was devastated by the news of Van Heerden’s death.

“Barney van Heerden was one of the few friends who, after the brutal attack on me in my house on Xmas Day 2006, overcame his horror of my injuries and consequent disability and actually supported me through all of the two years it took to recover in part,” said De Kock.

“How terrible that he too had to become the victim of such murderous violence and, ultimately lose his life in the process.”

De Kock, who was set to travel to South America with van Heerden next year, warned members of the LGBTI community to be wary of the dangers of meeting strangers for dates or online hook-ups.

Van Heerden worked for Investec and had recently completed a Masters Degree in Sustainability at Stellenbosch University.