Johannesburg – Gerhardus Jansen van Vuuren, the alleged stalker and killer of his ex-girlfriend – Rustenburg’s first test-tube baby – has been arrested in Brazil after skipping bail two months ago.

Andrea Venter, a Joburg accountant, had left her hometown of Rustenburg to flee the increasingly hostile advances of her ex-boyfriend, Jansen van Vuuren, after applying for a protection order against him in 2007.

The 25-year-old graduate started a new life at a Joburg accounting firm.

But Jansen van Vuuren allegedly contacted at least 33 accounting firms across the province to find his ex-girlfriend – eventually finding out her address.

In May 2011, Venter returned to her Fourways housing complex, where Jansen van Vuuren was allegedly waiting for her.

She was punched in the face with a knuckle-duster and stabbed 14 times with a pocket knife.

Venter died at the scene.

Jansen van Vuuren then tried to slash his own throat in a failed suicide bid.

The incident was caught on CCTV.

A security guard who tried to intervene will be a witness at Jansen van Vuuren’s trial.

Jansen van Vuuren was arrested and twice denied bail at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, as State experts believed he was dangerous and could flee if granted bail.

In January, Jansen van Vuuren told the courts his trial should be delayed because he wanted to be mentally evaluated.

At a later appearance, Judge Fritz van Oosten dismissed the State’s argument that Jansen van Vuuren was a flight risk. The IT technician was released on R15 000 bail, and vanished shortly after. The last time he signed in to comply with his bail conditions was on May 15.

The sudden disappearance of their daughter’s alleged murderer left Venter’s parents fearing for their lives.

Dries Venter told the media he was concerned for his family’s safety, as, when Jansen van Vuuren was dating his daughter, the young man had often threatened to kill him and his wife if Andrea left him.

Police searches for Jansen van Vuuren failed until Wednesday, when he was found hiding out in Brazil.

The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Interpol had arrested him.

NPA spokeswoman Phindi Louw said the man who had been arrested in Brazil had been fingerprint tested and confirmed to be Jansen van Vuuren.

It’s understood an extradition process will begin soon. It’s unclear how long it will take before he will return to face justice.

The Star