Driftwood Killer Case: Bevan Van Druten’s ‘Demonic’ Prison Call, Cult Claims And Anneke Van Heerden Murder Trial

The murder case against Bevan van Druten, dubbed the “Driftwood Killer”, has taken another dramatic turn after the accused abandoned his bail application and was referred for psychiatric observation.

Van Druten, 53, stands charged with the murder of former Plettenberg Bay detective Anneke “Nicky” van Heerden. He has been in custody since shortly after her body was discovered on 18 January on a sand dune near Rivertides, close to Keurbooms Beach. Sand was reportedly found in her mouth.

Earlier this month, during proceedings in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court, van Druten read from a handwritten letter and spoke about his beliefs before confirming he no longer wished to pursue bail.

The court subsequently ordered that he undergo psychiatric evaluation at Valkenberg Hospital. His case has been postponed to 6 March.

Psychiatric Evaluation Ordered After Bail Application Withdrawn

In a previous appearance, van Druten told magistrate Stephan Lourens that he saw himself as the Archangel Michael and described Van Heerden as Jesus Christ. His remarks formed part of the lead-up to the court’s decision to have him assessed.

While he remains behind bars in Knysna, a friend has described receiving a troubling call from the accused. According to the man, van Druten claimed “demonic stuff” was happening inside the prison and urged him to visit.

“Bevan is a bit of a weirdo,” the friend said, adding that van Druten identified as a reborn Christian and believed external forces were involved in events around him.

“Bevan called me last week and said I needed to visit him in jail because demonic stuff was going on there. He has asked me to visit him three times now, once in person and twice through his brother-in-law. I intended to visit to deliver a letter saying I want nothing to do with him.”

The man said van Druten sounded anxious but offered no further explanation. “I can accept that the court may decide that he is innocent, so I was willing to keep the friendship on pause pending the court decision,” he said.

“I cannot be friends with someone like that.”

Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that inmates are permitted to make phone calls.

“They are allowed to make a phone call,” he said. “But it depends on how many calls they can make, but they are allowed [to do so].”

Voice Note, Spiritual Claims And Rocco Viljoen’s Response

An almost 11-minute voice note believed to have been recorded by Van Heerden shortly before her death has also surfaced. In the recording, she appeared agitated while addressing individuals she said were following a WhatsApp group linked to former pastor Rocco Viljoen.

“All of you, I am not a f—-ng polar bear,” she said. “Listen, all of you are asking a thousand questions about the Lord … because you want to believe this man you’re following over that of a man of the Lord, Bevan van Druten.

“Bevan van Druten is no longer Bevan van Druten. He is now Jonah, like the man spat out by the whale … the Bible was written in code. You need to listen to me. I felt the fear of Jesus Christ. Please listen to me. I gave myself the name Alaska. It comes out of the f—- Bible,” she said.

A man can be heard laughing in the background, after which she added: “This mad man laughing next to me is Bevan van Druten.”

Viljoen has denied any involvement in a cult. “I must explain to you what this spirituality is,” he said. “The spirituality is not a cult nor is it a church … it is just you.”

He said he loved Van Heerden but was not “actually in love with her”.

“When I met Alaska, I had recently broken up with somebody I truly loved, and I still love her. I was really hoping things would change and that we would get back together again.”

He described their relationship as intimate but not sexual. “We were both battling to survive … it really would not have worked, because I could not look after myself, and she could not look after herself.

“We were such good friends that we could sleep in the same bed without clothes, without sex.”

Garden Route Cult Allegations And Arch Rock Meeting

Separate claims have circulated about alternative spiritual groups operating across the Garden Route, Cape Town and the Eastern Cape.

A Knysna resident alleged he had been “bundled up and pumped full of drugs” by individuals he described as cult leaders.

“They are a psychedelic cult and sell healing for anything, from cancer to Aids,” he said. “I have physically experienced it, and they have pumped me full of drugs before.

“You have to keep buying medicine from them and they receive all their money as donations and have several bank accounts as well as PayPal.”

He alleged the use of ayahuasca, ibogaine and mushrooms. Assisted dying remains illegal in South Africa.

Rhoda Slabbert Barron, said to have moved in similar circles, previously featured in the case of Diego Novella, who was convicted of murdering Gabriela Alban in Camps Bay in 2015. Evidence in that trial included reference to ibogaine use prior to the killing.

Another woman who previously administered ibogaine in the Garden Route, known as Tenichka, described the drug as “amazing” and said she had no involvement with van Druten or Van Heerden.

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Meanwhile, a man who spent time with the couple on the day of Van Heerden’s death said they appeared affectionate during an afternoon at Arch Rock Resort.

“I spent the Sunday with both Bevan and Alaska at Arch Rock,” he said. “I spent about three hours with them from 1pm to 4pm. They were both acting like happy lovers in bliss.”

Her body was found about seven hours later.

Van Heerden’s family, represented by her brother-in-law Hein Bruwer, said their priority remains justice. “We only want justice to be served,” Bruwer said. “We are still trying to process what has happened. It has been extremely difficult for all of us.”

Regarding the cult allegations, he added: “We were not aware of any of those allegations ourselves. We have only read about them in the media. Our concern is Nicky. We love her dearly and we miss her every single day.”