Middelburg, June 26, 2024 – The death of Johan Cowan, a 49-year-old businessman and director of Genet Mineral Processing, has escalated into a murder investigation, prompting his business partners to engage Mike Bolhuis’ Specialised Security Services (SSS) team to assist in uncovering the circumstances surrounding his tragic demise.
Initially treated as an inquest, the case was reclassified following the discovery of Cowan’s body in his idling white double cab Toyota GR Hilux bakkie at the Snake Road off-ramp by Benoni SAPS sector police during a routine patrol at 03:00 on June 16. Captain Nomsa Sekele, spokesperson for Benoni Police SAPS, confirmed that Cowan was found in the driver’s seat with gunshot wounds to the upper body, and his vehicle’s rear passenger door was open.
According to reports, Cowan had been called out to one of the group’s new mines in Vanderbijlpark on June 15. His wife, Lunilda, reported that communication ceased later that evening, and efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.
“At the scene, the victim’s phone rang, and the investigating officer answered, informing one of the victim’s colleagues about the discovery,” Sekele disclosed. Cowan’s laptop, cellphone, and personal firearm were recovered from the vehicle.
Wesley Vos, an SSS technical investigator leading the cyber division, has appealed for information from motorists who travelled along the route or adjacent roads from Vanderbijlpark during the early hours of June 16. Dashcam footage or any observations deemed suspicious are of particular interest to the investigation, conducted jointly with SAPS.
For those with relevant information, Wesley Vos can be contacted at 060 899 9938.
The transition of Cowan’s case to a murder investigation underscores the seriousness with which authorities are pursuing justice in this tragic event, urging public cooperation to aid in the apprehension of those responsible.