The family of a primary school teacher who was ruthlessly murdered in March is seeking answers and closure.
Bevin Dorkin, 35, an educator and school governing body secretary at a primary school in Newclare, Randburg, was discovered dead in March. His body was discovered tied up at another school in Malvern.
According to the deceased’s family, a murder case was opened at the Cleveland police station in Malvern.
Jenilee, the deceased’s sister, said her brother’s body was discovered tied up, arms to the back, and placed behind the fire station at a high school in Malvern, east of Johannesburg.
She also claimed that the DNA discovered in the school’s library matched her deceased brother’s.
Family barred from holding memorial service at the school
“My brother was murdered, and I honestly believe it happened at his workplace. He was kidnapped, and his vehicle was stolen the same day. They stripped my brother naked and stoned him to death,” she added.
She added that the police informed them that the vehicle could not be reported stolen because there were no eyewitnesses.
“The police are failing us; they contact the principal. The …principal then called Dulton Adams, an [African Christian Democratic Party] leader in Johannesburg. [They] called the community to block us from having a memorial service for my brother at the school. And he got security guards and gangsters to come out and stop the memorial,” Jenilee alleged.
What really shattered the Dorkin family’s heart was a memorial service staged without their permission. It was organised by the province’s department of education without the family’s permission.
Victim told family that his life was in danger
“The department of education did not acknowledge Bevin’s death or write a statement. [Even] after several attempts by Sadtu [union] for a statement to be released. [Bevin] told us every day that it was not safe where he worked at. He said the principal used to threaten his life. The murder is being investigated by the SAPS, and we are okay with that. But it’s the motive behind the killing that scares me.”
According to Jenilee, her brother had discovered that the principal has been using state funds to his own needs. That ruined their work relationship.
“There are witnesses to the bullying that my brother was subjected to at that school. [However], they would not want to be associated with this [out of fear]. We want to know why the principal threatened his life. Why was a politician so involved in this matter and [we want] those responsible for his murder behind bars.”
