All Article Properties:
{
"access_control": false,
"status": "publish",
"objectType": "Article",
"id": "2104549",
"signature": "Article:2104549",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-03-22-hermanus-residents-express-anger-and-sympathy-over-joostes-death-by-suicide/",
"shorturl": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2104549",
"slug": "hermanus-residents-express-anger-and-sympathy-over-joostes-death-by-suicide",
"contentType": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Article",
"slug": "article"
},
"views": 0,
"comments": 53,
"preview_limit": null,
"excludedFromGoogleSearchEngine": 0,
"title": "Hermanus residents express anger and sympathy over Jooste's death by suicide",
"firstPublished": "2024-03-22 20:08:50",
"lastUpdate": "2024-03-22 20:10:07",
"categories": [
{
"id": "29",
"name": "South Africa",
"signature": "Category:29",
"slug": "south-africa",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/south-africa/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
},
{
"id": "387188",
"name": "Maverick News",
"signature": "Category:387188",
"slug": "maverick-news",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/maverick-news/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
}
],
"content_length": 4682,
"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traces of blood were still at the </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spot where disgraced former Steinhoff CEO </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article_tag/markus-jooste/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Markus Jooste</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ended his own life when </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> visited the area on the morning of Friday 22 March.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The spot is at Kwaaiwater beach in Hermanus, about 20 minutes walk from the Jooste compound. Before reaching the area, there were also blood droplets on the trail leading to the scene. This was where authorities would have carried his body to get him to the hospital. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2104189 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4000\" height=\"2667\" /> <em>A member of the public takes photos at the scene where Markus Jooste died by suicide near Kwaaiwater beach in Hermanus, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Residents declined to speak on the record but shared contrasting views about the death. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Any death is sad, but I wonder how he slept at night, after what he did,” said a resident who was jogging on the footpath above the spot where Jooste took his own life. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I can tell you there is a feeling of resentment towards him in the area. There are a lot of unanswered questions, but we cannot change what happened.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another anonymous resident said the Jooste family maintained a low profile but “his arrogance did not go away. He was the most arrogant person we knew here. I do not think we imagined he would commit suicide, but it must have been tough for him and his family.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Others said they felt sorry for the family. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-03-21-steinhoff-mastermind-markus-jooste-reportedly-commits-suicide-shortly-after-r475m-fine/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steinhoff mastermind Markus Jooste reportedly commits suicide shortly after R475m fine</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jooste allegedly shot himself </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at about 2.40pm on Thursday. Police said the 63-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the head, and succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival at a private hospital.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His death comes a day after he was informed that he had to pay a R475-million administrative penalty to the </span><a href=\"https://www.fsca.co.za/News%20Documents/Press%20Release_Update%20on%20Steinhoff%20International%20Holdings%20Limited%20and%20Steinhoff%20International%20Holdings%20NV_20%20March%202024.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Sector Conduct Authority</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (FSCA) on or before Friday, 19 April 2024 — giving him a month to come up with the funds.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2104185 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-06.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4429\" height=\"2953\" /> <em>Michael Jooste, Markus Jooste’s son, talks on his phone at Jooste's home in Voëlklip in Hermanus, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until his death, the former Stellies old boy was stoic, maintaining in recent interviews with the FSCA that he was “unaware” of any financial irregularities.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Jooste attended FSCA interviews under notice and on dates arranged with his lawyers, his responses to most questions were not actual answers to the questions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back at the Jooste compound, Michael (Jooste’s son) was pacing up and down on a heated phone call. The compound, which covers more than two streets, was quiet, and there was no activity besides Michael in the garden. He did not respond when asked to speak to the media. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Outside the home of Steinhoff mastermind, Markus Jooste. So far, we have only seen his son, Michael inside the yard. <a href=\"https://t.co/1UPgD575Y9\">pic.twitter.com/1UPgD575Y9</a></p>\r\n— Veve (@LudidiVelani) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LudidiVelani/status/1771180195497517230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 22, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Residents were jogging past the compound and some pointed at it while having small conversations. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neighbours said they did not hear anything until they saw ambulances in the area. No people were seen coming to pay their respects, or laying flowers outside the home. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2104188 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-09.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3374\" height=\"2250\" /> <em>The scene where Markus Jooste died by suicide near Kwaaiwater beach, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<b>Planned protest </b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Land Party, a </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">party that grew out of land access and housing protests in Zwelihle, Hermanus in 2018, had planned a protest action on 1 May 2024. The planned protest was for worker’s rights and they were going to make it to the Jooste compound. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-03-22-disgraced-departed-the-financial-sector-conduct-authority-case-against-markus-jooste/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disgraced, Departed: The Financial Sector Conduct Authority case against Markus Jooste</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The passing saddened us,” said Kholiswa Ngqandana, Land Party member and PR councillor in the Overberg Municipality. “We were going to march to ask that he publicly apologise and tell us when he is planning to pay back the pensioner’s money. The protest will go on as planned, but we will no longer come to his house as he is no more.” </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2104339 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RS9A9237.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> <em>Kholiswa Ngqandana, Land Party member and PR councillor in the Overberg Municipality, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ngqandana said while Jooste was one of the rich people living in Hermanus, he never contributed to the poor. “Hermanus, like any other place in the Western Cape, has poor areas that are forgotten, but the people from these areas are used for their labour. The free houses from the government are in bad shape and not maintained. There are no services on the shacks we stay in since we occupied land in 2018.”</span>\r\n\r\nhttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/ki85GDOe37s\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Jooste family has not shared any public statements or made any comments, following the death.</span><b> DM</b>",
"teaser": "Hermanus residents express anger and sympathy over Jooste's death by suicide",
"externalUrl": "",
"sponsor": null,
"authors": [
{
"id": "302665",
"name": "Velani Ludidi",
"image": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Velani_bio_pic.jpeg",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/author/velani-ludidi/",
"editorialName": "velani-ludidi",
"department": "",
"name_latin": ""
}
],
"description": "",
"keywords": [
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "10877",
"name": "Markus Jooste",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/markus-jooste/",
"slug": "markus-jooste",
"description": " \r\n\r\nMarkus Jooste is a South African businessman who was the CEO of Steinhoff International from 2001 to 2017. He is alleged to have masterminded the company's widespread accounting fraud, which resulted in the collapse of its share price and the loss of billions of dollars in shareholder value. Jooste resigned from Steinhoff in December 2017 and when he fled South Africa.\r\n\r\nUnder Jooste's leadership, Steinhoff grew rapidly through a series of acquisitions. The company acquired a number of well-known brands, including Conforama, Poundland, and Mattress Firm. Steinhoff's share price soared and Jooste was hailed as a business genius.\r\n\r\nHowever, in 2017, it was revealed that Steinhoff had been engaged in widespread accounting fraud. The fraud involved a complex scheme of intercompany loans and asset transfers that were used to inflate the company's profits. Steinhoff also overstated its inventory levels and used aggressive accounting practices to make its financial statements look more favourable.\r\n\r\nThe fraud wiped out billions of dollars in shareholder value and left thousands of investors out of pocket. Jooste resigned from Steinhoff in December 2017 and has since fled South Africa.\r\n\r\nJooste is facing criminal charges in South Africa and Germany. He is also being investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. It is unclear whether he will ever be brought to justice.",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Markus Jooste",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "10878",
"name": "Steinhoff",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/steinhoff/",
"slug": "steinhoff",
"description": "Steinhoff International is a South African multinational retail corporation that had operations in more than 30 countries. It was founded in 1964 by Bruno Steinhoff and grew rapidly through a series of acquisitions. In 2017, the company's share price collapsed by more than 90% after it was revealed that it had been engaged in widespread accounting fraud. The scandal, which is considered to be one of the biggest corporate frauds in history, wiped out billions of dollars in shareholder value and left thousands of investors out of pocket.\r\n\r\nThe fraud involved a complex scheme of intercompany loans and asset transfers that were used to inflate Steinhoff's profits. The company also overstated its inventory levels and used aggressive accounting practices to make its financial statements look more favourable. The fraud was allegedly masterminded by Markus Jooste, who was the company's CEO at the time. Jooste resigned from Steinhoff in December 2017. He is currently wanted in Germany for failing to appear for a court appearance in a related matter.\r\n\r\nThe Steinhoff scandal has had a significant impact on the South African economy. The company was one of the country's largest employers and its collapse has led to job losses and uncertainty in the retail sector. The scandal has also damaged investor confidence in South Africa's financial markets.\r\n\r\nIn the wake of the scandal, Steinhoff has been undergoing a restructuring process. The company has sold off assets and is trying to reduce its debt burden. It is unclear whether Steinhoff will be able to survive the scandal, but it is likely that the company will be a shadow of its former self.",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Steinhoff",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "10938",
"name": "Suicide",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/suicide/",
"slug": "suicide",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Suicide",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "15477",
"name": "NPA",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/npa/",
"slug": "npa",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "NPA",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "15673",
"name": "Hermanus",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/hermanus/",
"slug": "hermanus",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Hermanus",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "387369",
"name": "Velani Ludidi",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/velani-ludidi/",
"slug": "velani-ludidi",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Velani Ludidi",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "391172",
"name": "accounting fraud",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/accounting-fraud/",
"slug": "accounting-fraud",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "accounting fraud",
"translations": null
}
}
],
"short_summary": null,
"source": null,
"related": [],
"options": [],
"attachments": [
{
"id": "17078",
"name": "Kholiswa Ngqandana, Land Party member and PR councillor in the Overberg Municipality, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traces of blood were still at the </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spot where disgraced former Steinhoff CEO </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article_tag/markus-jooste/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Markus Jooste</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ended his own life when </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> visited the area on the morning of Friday 22 March.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The spot is at Kwaaiwater beach in Hermanus, about 20 minutes walk from the Jooste compound. Before reaching the area, there were also blood droplets on the trail leading to the scene. This was where authorities would have carried his body to get him to the hospital. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2104189\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"4000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2104189 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4000\" height=\"2667\" /> <em>A member of the public takes photos at the scene where Markus Jooste died by suicide near Kwaaiwater beach in Hermanus, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Residents declined to speak on the record but shared contrasting views about the death. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Any death is sad, but I wonder how he slept at night, after what he did,” said a resident who was jogging on the footpath above the spot where Jooste took his own life. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I can tell you there is a feeling of resentment towards him in the area. There are a lot of unanswered questions, but we cannot change what happened.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another anonymous resident said the Jooste family maintained a low profile but “his arrogance did not go away. He was the most arrogant person we knew here. I do not think we imagined he would commit suicide, but it must have been tough for him and his family.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Others said they felt sorry for the family. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-03-21-steinhoff-mastermind-markus-jooste-reportedly-commits-suicide-shortly-after-r475m-fine/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steinhoff mastermind Markus Jooste reportedly commits suicide shortly after R475m fine</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jooste allegedly shot himself </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at about 2.40pm on Thursday. Police said the 63-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the head, and succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival at a private hospital.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His death comes a day after he was informed that he had to pay a R475-million administrative penalty to the </span><a href=\"https://www.fsca.co.za/News%20Documents/Press%20Release_Update%20on%20Steinhoff%20International%20Holdings%20Limited%20and%20Steinhoff%20International%20Holdings%20NV_20%20March%202024.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Sector Conduct Authority</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (FSCA) on or before Friday, 19 April 2024 — giving him a month to come up with the funds.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2104185\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"4429\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2104185 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-06.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4429\" height=\"2953\" /> <em>Michael Jooste, Markus Jooste’s son, talks on his phone at Jooste's home in Voëlklip in Hermanus, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until his death, the former Stellies old boy was stoic, maintaining in recent interviews with the FSCA that he was “unaware” of any financial irregularities.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Jooste attended FSCA interviews under notice and on dates arranged with his lawyers, his responses to most questions were not actual answers to the questions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back at the Jooste compound, Michael (Jooste’s son) was pacing up and down on a heated phone call. The compound, which covers more than two streets, was quiet, and there was no activity besides Michael in the garden. He did not respond when asked to speak to the media. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Outside the home of Steinhoff mastermind, Markus Jooste. So far, we have only seen his son, Michael inside the yard. <a href=\"https://t.co/1UPgD575Y9\">pic.twitter.com/1UPgD575Y9</a></p>\r\n— Veve (@LudidiVelani) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LudidiVelani/status/1771180195497517230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 22, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Residents were jogging past the compound and some pointed at it while having small conversations. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neighbours said they did not hear anything until they saw ambulances in the area. No people were seen coming to pay their respects, or laying flowers outside the home. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2104188\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3374\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2104188 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-09.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3374\" height=\"2250\" /> <em>The scene where Markus Jooste died by suicide near Kwaaiwater beach, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<b>Planned protest </b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Land Party, a </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">party that grew out of land access and housing protests in Zwelihle, Hermanus in 2018, had planned a protest action on 1 May 2024. The planned protest was for worker’s rights and they were going to make it to the Jooste compound. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-03-22-disgraced-departed-the-financial-sector-conduct-authority-case-against-markus-jooste/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disgraced, Departed: The Financial Sector Conduct Authority case against Markus Jooste</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The passing saddened us,” said Kholiswa Ngqandana, Land Party member and PR councillor in the Overberg Municipality. “We were going to march to ask that he publicly apologise and tell us when he is planning to pay back the pensioner’s money. The protest will go on as planned, but we will no longer come to his house as he is no more.” </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2104339\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2104339 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RS9A9237.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> <em>Kholiswa Ngqandana, Land Party member and PR councillor in the Overberg Municipality, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ngqandana said while Jooste was one of the rich people living in Hermanus, he never contributed to the poor. “Hermanus, like any other place in the Western Cape, has poor areas that are forgotten, but the people from these areas are used for their labour. The free houses from the government are in bad shape and not maintained. There are no services on the shacks we stay in since we occupied land in 2018.”</span>\r\n\r\nhttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/ki85GDOe37s\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Jooste family has not shared any public statements or made any comments, following the death.</span><b> DM</b>",
"focal": "50% 50%",
"width": 0,
"height": 0,
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg",
"transforms": [
{
"x": "200",
"y": "100",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/-S-MIpU4Dtp-0rdvGDIE-ftm5LA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg"
},
{
"x": "450",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/EHH5Je91fE2c3tQ03ciLOF0ioNU=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg"
},
{
"x": "800",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/Nmk7QKcdRpFRH5QewO2bA53e23A=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1200",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/rgGLS_H5xFp5-A9Mj1guSotbzag=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1600",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/eUI21vVKgvtrq7sE7dDUINH5Krw=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg"
}
],
"url_thumbnail": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/-S-MIpU4Dtp-0rdvGDIE-ftm5LA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg",
"url_medium": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/EHH5Je91fE2c3tQ03ciLOF0ioNU=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg",
"url_large": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/Nmk7QKcdRpFRH5QewO2bA53e23A=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg",
"url_xl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/rgGLS_H5xFp5-A9Mj1guSotbzag=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg",
"url_xxl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/eUI21vVKgvtrq7sE7dDUINH5Krw=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jooste-14.jpg",
"type": "image"
}
],
"summary": "Stains were still fresh on the Hermanus rocks near the cliff paths, on the morning after former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste ended his life. \r\n",
"template_type": null,
"dm_custom_section_label": null,
"elements": [],
"seo": {
"search_title": "Hermanus residents express anger and sympathy over Jooste's death by suicide",
"search_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traces of blood were still at the </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spot where disgraced former Steinhoff CEO </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/artic",
"social_title": "Hermanus residents express anger and sympathy over Jooste's death by suicide",
"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traces of blood were still at the </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spot where disgraced former Steinhoff CEO </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/artic",
"social_image": ""
},
"cached": true,
"access_allowed": true
} 
A member of the public takes photos at the scene where Markus Jooste died by suicide near Kwaaiwater beach in Hermanus, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)
Michael Jooste, Markus Jooste’s son, talks on his phone at Jooste's home in Voëlklip in Hermanus, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)
The scene where Markus Jooste died by suicide near Kwaaiwater beach, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)
Kholiswa Ngqandana, Land Party member and PR councillor in the Overberg Municipality, on 22 March 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)