The case against Anelle de Bruin, an Eastern Cape woman accused of plotting to kill her husband, has been postponed for further investigation.
De Bruin appeared in the Aliwal North Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. She was arrested on January 9 after allegedly hiring hitmen to stage her husband's murder as a farm attack. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), she had already made a down payment to a middleman and promised to pay the rest after receiving insurance payouts, which could have exceeded R50 million.
Investigators revealed that de Bruin allegedly recorded detailed instructions for the hitmen, including shooting the family’s dogs and vehicle tyres to make the crime appear as a farm attack. She also reportedly informed the middleman about how long neighboring farmers would take to respond.
The court granted a postponement to allow prosecutors to collect further evidence, including statements, cellphone records, and photo albums. De Bruin remains out on bail under strict conditions, including a ban on returning to the farm and supervised visits with her children. She is set to appear in court again on April 23.