Marli Van Breda and the survival story that still raises questions
Marli Van Breda survived a murder attack by her brother, Henri, in January 2015 in South Africa. Henri killed their parents and an older brother. Marli, the family's youngest member, escaped death but sustained severe injuries. The article delves into the murder case. It also unveils Henri's whereabouts and Marli's inheritance after their parents' deaths.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Marli Van Breda is the sole survivor of a brutal axe attack by her brother, Henri, on her family.
- Her parents Martin and Teresa, and eldest brother Rudi were killed.
- She suffered severe head trauma and a severed jugular vein.
- Henri was convicted in May 2018 and is serving a life sentence.
- Marli continues to recover and lives a private life.
Profile summary
Full name | Marli van Breda |
Gender | Female |
Year of birth | 1999 |
Place of birth | Australia |
Age | 27 (as of 2026) |
Nationality | South African |
Ethnicity | White |
Father | Martin van Breda (late) |
Mother | Teresa (late) |
Siblings | Rudi van Breda (late) and Henri van Breda |
Hair color | Blonde |
Eye color | Blue |
Marli van Breda's family
Marli van Breda was born in October 1999 in Australia in a wealthy family. Her 54-year-old father, Martin van Breda, owned at least 25 companies and was a managing director of Engel & Völkers (the Australian branch).
Marli van Breda's mother, Teresa, was a Computer Science graduate from the University of Johannesburg. She was 55 at the time of her death. Marli had two older brothers, Rudi and Henri.
The 22-year-old Rudi was a master's degree student at the University of Melbourne in Australia. It is believed the 20-year-old Henri was addicted to narcotics and spent time at a rehabilitation center in Cape Town.
The family lived in Perth, Australia, before relocating to South Africa in 2014. They had a luxurious home in De Zalze Golf Estate, 10 Allemann Street in South Africa.
Source: UGC
How old is Marli van Breda now?
Marli van Breda's age is 27years old as of 2026. She was born in Australia in October 1999 and was 16 in 2015 when her brother murdered the family.
What happened to the van Breda family?
Marli could not vividly remember what happened on the evening of 27th January 2015. Her parents and brother, Rudi, were found dead in their home in Stellenbosch with severe axe injuries.
She was in critical condition, having sustained serious head injuries. Her other sibling, Henri, had minor knife wounds and was covered in blood.
What injuries did Marli van Breda sustain?
Marli sustained cut wounds to her head. She was rushed to an intensive care unit and underwent extensive surgery and physiotherapy for a few months.
Marli was later diagnosed with retrograde amnesia and could not recollect what occurred on the evening of the attack. She returned to school but was separated from Henri. They lived with relatives while he continued to plead innocent.
Henri van Breda trial and court proceedings
After a year and a half of investigations, the police requested Henri to hand himself over. He did that on 13th June 2016 and was released on R100,000 bail on 14th June.
According to court papers, Henri called his girlfriend at 4:42 in the morning, but she did not pick up. He called a local emergency number about four hours late to report that a man with an axe had attacked his family.
Investigations revealed the blood on him was from his parents and brother. According to Henri, he helplessly watched through a crack in a bathroom door as the man attacked his loved ones. He blacked out from a head injury after fighting the intruder for some hours and managing to chase the intruder away.
Henri also claimed he did not know how to raise the alarm when he came around. Investigations showed no forceful entry into their home, and a list of emergency numbers was stuck to the family fridge. Marli refused to testify on behalf of her brother and kept off the stand to protect her privacy.
Henri and his girlfriend, Danielle Janse Van Rensburg, were arrested on 6th September for possessing narcotics and released on bail. On 7th June 2018, he was sentenced to three life jail terms for killing his mother, father, and brother. He got fifteen years for the attempted murder of his sister and twelve months for obstruction of justice.
What is the latest news on Henri van Breda?
Murder convict Henri van Breda was relocated from Drakenstein Correctional Centre in Paarl to a facility in Gauteng after a prison attack.
What was Henri van Breda’s motive for the murders?
Reports claim Henri killed his parents and brother after his allowance was cut off due to his addiction to narcotics. He allegedly spent time at an expensive drug rehab center in Loevenstein, Bellville, in Cape Town.
Source: UGC
How much did Marli Van Breda inherit?
Marli inherited about R200 million after her family's death and her brother's conviction. Her estate was placed under curatorship until she turned 21.
Is Marli van Breda still alive?
Yes. The latest news on Marli van Breda reveals she is now healthy and back to normal living.
Where is Marli van Breda today?
The whereabouts of Henri Van Breda's sister are unknown to the public. She stays away from the limelight.
What is Marli van Breda's Instagram?
Marli does not have a public Instagram account. She has maintained a strictly private life following the incident, with her legal team and family protecting her privacy from the media and public eye.
What has happened to Marli van Breda?
Marli, who was only 16 at the time, was left critically injured with head wounds and was rushed to the hospital. She currently lives a low-profile life.
Facts about Marli van Breda
- She was the only daughter and youngest child in her family.
- She neither showed up in court nor testified against/for her brother.
- She inherited around R200 million after her family's death and her brother's conviction.
What happened to Marli van Breda was a deeply tragic and shocking event that changed her life forever. Despite the unimaginable trauma she endured, her determination to survive and rebuild her life reflects remarkable courage, resilience, and strength. Her story continues to stand as a powerful reminder of the human spirit’s ability to endure even the darkest moments.
Briefly.co.za shared the untold story of Carlyn Rosser and the cause of her death in 2017. She was famously known as Patrick Duffy's wife.
Patrick Duffy is an American actor and director. He is widely known for acting as Bobby Ewing on the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas from 1978 to 1985 and 1986 to 1991.
Source: Briefly News
Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo has vast experience in search engine optimization through digital content generation, research, editing, and proofreading. She joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019 and completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
John Ouma (Lifestyle writer) John Ouma is a journalist with six years of experience. He has published sharply argued think pieces that live at the intersection of power, politics, and society. He was awarded the FirstGen scholarship by Biola University and a merit-based scholarship by AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in January 2021. He has worked for The Standard and Nation Africa as an opinion columnist between 2018 and 2022. He is currently working on his first novel—a literary fiction that traces the life of a contemporary Kenyan artist. Email: gervasjohn97@gmail.com
