The owner of a German-themed restaurant has been murdered and hacked ‘into pieces’ by a machete-wielding robber in South Africa.
Eduard Neumeister, 67, who was born in Austria, was hit with ‘dozens of blows’ from a bush knife at his property in Balgowan, 70 miles outside Durban.
The frenzied attack happened as Eduard – known locally as Edi – went to feed his dogs and prepare for breakfast at the Bratwurst Sausage Restaurant and B&B that he ran with partner Margit Riebler, 62.
Murdered restaurant owner Eduard Neumeister, 67, was hacked to death in front of his partner Margit Riebler (right) at their German-themed restaurant in South Africa
As Eduard went outside he was struck with such force by a man wearing a balaclava that he was knocked to the ground.
His devastated partner Margit told police Eduard bravely fought for his life before tragically collapsing in a pool of his own blood.
Bloodied footprints and a splattered trail were left in the kitchen as Eduard desperately tried to save his partner’s life
Thinking Eduard was dead, the attacker ambushed the restaurant kitchen, where he began strangling Margit and threatened: ‘Give me all the money or die.’
At this point Eduard staggered through the door, despite his severe injuries, as he desperately tried to help Margit and begged the attacker to leave her alone.
But the man launched a second attack on Eduard with such such ferocity that he was hacked beyond recognition.
Paramedics and police officers said they had never seen such horrific injuries to a person and revealed Eduard was cut ‘into pieces’.
As the murderer continued to hack Eduard’s body on the kitchen floor, Margit fled to the main road and flagged down car.
She was driven to a nearby boarding school and called emergency services, but the murderer fled the scene before police arrived, and no arrests have been made.
Paramedics and police officers said they had never seen such horrific injuries to a person and revealed Eduard was cut ‘into pieces’
Eduard, above, stands with his German sausage stall at an outdoor market in South Africa. He had opened his German-themed restaurant and B&B business in 2010 with partner Margit
Last night Eduard’s daughter Sylvia, 38, fought back tears at her Cape Town home and said her father stood little chance of surviving the frenzied attack.
‘Dad was hit from behind with a machete outside and it must have hit an artery as there was so much blood.
‘Edi had gone out to feed our rottweilers who are just so soft that they barked and ran away when this man attacked, and we think to be there at that time he must have been lying in wait for him.
‘We don’t know how he got past the electric fence and inside the main compound area but it would seem he knew my dad always fed the dogs at about 7.30am and he was waiting for him.’
A pool of Eduard’s blood is seen on the steps into the restaurant where he managed to get up in a bid to save his partner’s life as the attacker strangled her
‘Dad went down on the ground as you can see from all the bloodstains by the workshop but shouted a warning to Margit, but the black guy went inside then had his hands around her throat.’
She said that when her father heard Margit being attacked ‘he managed to get up and he tried to distract the burglar so that he could save her’.
Sylvia, who works as a waitress, revealed her father’s injuries were ‘too gruesome for anyone to even try and identify him because it was just impossible to tell who he was’.
She said so much of her father’s body had been attacked that ‘there was nothing left to put in a coffin’.
Describing the killing as ‘plain brutal’, Sylvia added: ‘Our dad was a funny man with a wicked sense of humour who made people laugh.
‘He did not harm anyone and was kind to everyone so he did not deserve this. His family had all helped him since 2010 build up his business and our blood, sweat and tears went into that.
‘Edi was a happy man who led a good life but thanks to this animal it was all over in an instant.
‘It is time this country woke up to what is happening on the farms and smallholdings because what happened here is just not right.’
Police tape protects the crime scene at the Bratwurst Sausage Restaurant and B&B. Authorities believe the motive for the attack was robbery, but the attacker – who remains at large – did not steal anything from safes
Sylvia said that although her father had several safes containing cash and valuables nothing appeared to have been stolen, despite authorities believing robbery was the motive for the attack.
She said: ‘Perhaps when Margit ran and got away the killer just panicked and made a run for it’.
Margit, a mother-of-two originally from Berlin, was too distraught to talk as she moved belongings out the property.
Eduard’s son Tommy, a sommelier from Weinheim in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, said he spoke with his father on the phone each week and would often visit with his wife and three-year-old son Elijah.
He said: ‘Edi and I had talked about farm attacks in South Africa but he never thought it would happen to him and he had upped security with two dogs and an electric fence and he felt he was safe.
Daughter Sylvia, above, revealed her father’s injuries were ‘too gruesome for anyone to even try and identify him because it was just impossible to tell who he was’
‘Killings like this need to stop right now and I don’t want anyone else going through what we are going through and more has to be done to keep farmers and those on these smallholdings safe.
‘Edi was a proud father and grandfather and I feel a part of me has been ripped out. I could not believe that on Sunday instead of chatting to him as usual I was dealing with his death’ he said.
Authorities have secured the property which is being patrolled and lived in by security guards.
KZN Province Premier Sihle Zikalala condemned the murder and said: ‘Violent crime will not be tolerated and those who commit such acts will be dealt with harshly.
‘We must ensure that the safety of those in our rural farming communities is prioritised’.
Chris Pappas, the opposition party Democratic Alliance KZN spokesperson, said they had constantly called for rural communities to be better protected.
Eduard, pictured above with his family, was described as ‘one of the most loving members of our community’
He said: ‘There has to be direct subsidising for security initiatives such as farm patrols and farm watches and the utilisation of technology such as CCTV and drones in hot spot areas.
‘We need the introduction and support of rural policing units that work with local crime prevention initiatives and the establishment of a provincial rural safety directorate’ he said.
South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala Mr Neumeister confirmed no arrests had yet been made.
Democratic Alliance local councillor Sandile Mnikati said: ‘I had met Mr Neumeister a few times when I went to his establishment and he was a gentle and loving man.
‘The brutal killing of one of the most loving members of our community is a tragedy and his loss to criminals in such a merciless manner will leave a scar for years to come on our community’.
Eduard’s son Tommy, pictured about with his father and sister, said: ‘Killings like this need to stop right now and I don’t want anyone else going through what we are going through and more has to be done to keep farmers and those on these smallholdings safe’
Eduard, originally from Salzburg in Austria, moved to South Africa in the 1970s where he met and married his first wife in 1980.
The marriage broke down in 1994 and Eduard later found new love with Margit before the pair launched their B&B business in 2010.
Daughter Sylvia said: ‘Dad basically offered a traditional bit of Germany up in the hills of KwaZulu-Natal and his sausage dishes and German beer went down very very well with the tourists.
Eduard is pictured with his son Tommy (left) and three-year-old grandson Elijah. Tommy said: ‘Edi was a proud father and grandfather and I feel a part of me has been ripped out. I could not believe that on Sunday instead of chatting to him as usual I was dealing with his death.’
Three-year-old grandson Elijah is pictured on a tractor with Eduard during a visit to South Africa
The entrance to the restaurant where Eduard was murdered is now shuttered off as authorities conduct investigations into his murder
‘He also had a strong following of German locals with lots of passers-by mixed in and he became very well known locally and he loved nothing more than enjoying a few beers and a laugh.
‘The business was really taking off with the bed and breakfast side looking good for the future but then Covid-19 came along and he and Margit had to close their doors and then this happens.
‘My brother and I are devastated that something so dreadful could happen to our father and sadly know I think this is the end of his dream and I cannot see the restaurant ever reopening.
‘We just hope they catch the person responsible for his horrific murder and that anyone else who has had any involvement in setting it up in any way or shape or form is also caught’ she said.
There were 21,000 murders in South Africa in 2019 – an average of 58 a day.