A man is on the run after he allegedly killed his estranged girlfriend by scalding her with cooking oil as she slept.
Muriel Adendorf was treated at three different hospitals, fighting for her life for 11 days before she passed away on 25 February.
The 29-year-old mom had three children and now her family is battling to bury her as they are struggling financially.
Her mother, Zelna Adendorf, explains that she and her daughter had left their home in Grabouw to pick apples in Villiersdorp.
She says on 11 February, Muriel’s ex-boyfriend arrived at the premises where the contract workers slept, announcing that he also had a job there.
TREATED: Muriel was in hospital for 11 days
She says Muriel dumped him in January, but he refused to accept her decision and had been hounding her daughter.
Zelna says two days after arriving, the man waited until they were asleep before heating up cooking oil in a pot over a fire.
The mother says just before she slept, Muriel told her that she was frightened of her ex.
“She said to me, ‘ Mamma, hy wil my nie af los nie’,” says Zelna.
“Two witnesses saw him heating something on the fire outside and it was the fish oil.
“He threw it all over her body. I woke up to her screams.”
Zelna says Muriel was rushed to a hospital in Caledon, then Worcester and later Tygerberg Hospital.
CRUEL DEATH: Muriel Adendorf of Grabouw died of her burns in Tygerberg Hospital
“She died as a result of her injuries 11 days later in hospital.”
She says the man fled the scene but later started threatening them.
“He ran away and threatened us. We do not know where he is now and we understand he has yet to be arrested.
“I am now the breadwinner and we are struggling with Muriel’s funeral.”
Community worker and family friend, Megan Coetzee, adds: “After she died, he told the family he only burnt her face so she could not be beautiful for another man.”
Villiersdorp Police Station Commander, Colonel C Auret, says: “We can confirm that the woman was burnt with cooking oil and died at Tygerberg Hospital and we cannot comment further as we wait for the docket.”