A German heiress and her family’s local financial manager have been found dead from gunshot wounds at a private safari estate in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
Caroline von Rantzau (26), daughter of German shipping entrepreneur Dr Eberhart von Rantzau, was discovered dead in her room at the Leeuwfontein Estate on 1 June. Her death came approximately 20 hours after the body of Arno Koën (44), the estate’s financial manager, was found on the same property.
Koën was discovered at approximately 14:00 on 31 May with a gunshot wound to the chest. Von Rantzau’s body was found the following morning at approximately 10:15.
South African Police Service (SAPS) opened two inquest dockets to investigate the circumstances surrounding both deaths. Police confiscated a licensed rifle and pistol from the property as part of their investigation.
Initial reports from the family’s business interests incorrectly stated that Von Rantzau had died in a car accident. However, police later confirmed that both deaths involved firearms.
The Leeuwfontein Estate is located in the Bulgerivier area near the Mozambique border. The property operates as a luxury safari lodge and private hunting reserve, home to various wildlife including antelope, wildebeest, impala and numerous bird species.
German newspaper Bild reported that Koën was a mentor and foster father to Von Rantzau.
Von Rantzau was actively involved in managing wildlife-related operations at the lodge and had reportedly recently purchased additional properties in the region.
Her father, Dr Eberhart von Rantzau, is managing director of Deutsche Afrika-Linien (DAL), a German liner shipping company. The family has historic ties to the European shipping industry, though DAL sold its container shipping operations to Hapag-Lloyd in 2022.
SAPS spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that autopsies are underway to determine the exact causes of both deaths.
“The results of the autopsy will give investigators information about the actual causes of death and will determine whether investigations will be launched against other persons,” Ledwaba said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
