Author Winnie Rust, 76, murdered

The Wellington community has been left reeling after one of their best-known residents, author Winnie Rust, was found murdered at her home.

Western Cape - The Wellington community has been left reeling after one of their best-known residents was found dead on Wednesday afternoon. Author Winnie Rust, 76, was found murdered at her home.

Police spokeswoman Constable Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed that a case of murder was under investigation. She said the body of a woman in her 70s was found at her residence in Wellington.

Rwexana said the circumstances surrounding the incident were under investigation and no one had been arrested at this stage.

It is understood that Rust was found by her husband Dr Manie Rust. She was reportedly partially bound and had facial wounds.

Rust wrote the books Margie of the Seminary; Martha, Countess of Stamford and Trek, among others, and had been short-listed for at least one major South African award.

Wellington resident Katrin Steytler, who knew Rust well, said people in the usually quiet Boland town were all in “deep shock”.

Steytler said she had known Rust for about 20 years and that she was a very sophisticated person who did much for the community.

“She was a gracious and a beautiful person, well-read and a good writer,” she said.

Steytler said it’s unthinkable that she is not around anymore.

“We were in the same discussion group and I will miss her for her insight of the country and for her kindness,” she said.

Steytler said this was not the first incident of its kind in the area and that several murders had happened close to each other in the past few years.

She also said there had been many break-ins in the area around Rust’s home.

She said she believed a burgeoning drug problem in the town could have something to do with murders in the area.

Rust was involved with the Wellington Museum and had contributed to the recording of the history of the area.

The museum’s chairman of the board of trustees Chris Pienaar said Rust and her husband were icons in Wellington.

He said they very giving people to the community and never asked for anything themselves.

“Three weeks ago Winnie gave money to a family that lost their home in a fire,” he said.

Pienaar said he got to know Rust when she became involved with the museum some years ago.

Pienaar said during her research for her book Martha, Countess of Stamford she had become very close to the coloured community in the town.

“She always came up with innovative ideas for the museum and our staff is still in shock, we will feel her loss very deeply,” he said.

Rust was born and grew up in Wellington and her father was a rector at Huguenot College. She leaves her husband and one child.

Cape Argus