Beautician tells of finding Marike

CAPE TOWN -- Marike de Klerk's beautician felt her world crumble when she saw the former first lady's body on the bedroom floor of her luxury Dolphin Beach apartment, the high court here heard yesterday.

Beautician Yolanda Wright, who had tried for almost two days to contact De Klerk, said she "knew something was wrong" when she found De Klerk's car parked in its bay at the complex.

She testified at the trial of former Securicor-Gray security guard, Luyanda Mboniswa, who has pleaded not guilty before Judge President John Hlophe and two assessors, to murder, rape, robbery, housebreaking and theft.

Led by prosecutor Tessa Heunis, she told the court De Klerk had had a lunchtime appointment at her salon for Monday, December 3 last year.

She said De Klerk, whose car was due for servicing that Monday, was to have telephoned her if she needed a lift to the salon, but did not do so and she was unable to reach her either by her landline or cellphone.

She said De Klerk failed to keep the appointment.

She went to the Dolphin Beach complex that Tuesday, to be told by the security her car was not there.

Wright said she was on her way back home when she decided to return to the complex and check for De Klerk's car herself. When she found the car parked in its bay, she knew something was wrong and asked the security guard to help her into the apartment.

She told the court that senior security officer Kelvin Cornelius got into De Klerk's bedroom, then shouted for an ambulance.

She added: "I went inside, and saw her body on the bedroom floor. It was like my whole world was crumbling -- I did not expect to find her dead."

Questioned by senior defence counsel Pat Gamble, she said she knew De Klerk as "Tannie Marike", and they had been good friends even while De Klerk was first lady. -- Sapa