Hidden amidst the picturesque landscape on the district road connecting Charlestown to Memel, stands the Fanny Knight Memorial. It serves as a solemn testament to a horrifying chapter of local history, perched on the southern slope of the Amajuba Mountain.
The memorial marks a location of intense tragedy where Stephanus Swart, in a chilling 24-hour murder spree, took the lives of Fanny Knight and G. Roets. This disturbing act was part of a series of violent events orchestrated by Swart as he evaded arrest and sought his estranged wife, Annie Swart. The ordeal began on 6 May 1927 and concluded with the cold-blooded deaths of eight individuals and three others left injured.
The harrowing events commenced on the fateful Friday morning when a team of 10 policemen, under the leadership of Captain Gerald Ashman, approached Swart's farm, Potters Hill, to detain him. Utilizing the misty conditions to his advantage, Swart ambushed the officers, resulting in the demise of five policemen and another left severely wounded. Successfully eluding capture, Swart made his escape towards Charlestown on horseback.
The fugitive's path soon intersected with that of his stepdaughter, Fannie Knight, and the farm manager, Cornelis Roets, who were traveling in a horse cart. Both Knight and Roets had previously testified against Swart, sealing their tragic fate. Without hesitation, Swart gunned them both down, leaving their lifeless bodies on the road.
Swart's vendetta continued to Charlestown. There, he tracked down his estranged wife at her brother's residence, ruthlessly ending her life with the same chilling determination.
As news of Swart's brutalities spread, the community was plunged into terror. Swart, still on the run, opened fire on a passing car as he headed towards Volkrust, injuring two more individuals. By now, law enforcement from all around the district were on high alert. With the collaboration of local farmers, a sizable posse was formed, intent on capturing the rogue assailant.
The chase came to a chilling end between Charlestown and Volkrust. The posse cornered Swart, who, realizing the inevitability of his capture, took refuge in a ditch. In a final act of defiance, he turned the weapon, stolen from one of his victims, on himself, ending his life.
Today, the Fanny Knight Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the lives lost in this horrifying chain of events. For visitors and locals alike, it's a monument to the innocent lives affected and a testament to the community's resilience in the face of such profound tragedy.