In a bittersweet letter, which thanked the South African police officers who solved the mystery of their daughter's murder and praised the justice system, the family of murdered Dutch student Marleen Konings said they will be visiting South Africa again.
Marleen, 24, was murdered on December 29, 2003, shortly after arriving in South Africa, when she was befriended by a serial criminal and shot in the head for her credit cards and other belongings.
The letter, addressed to Community Safety Minister Leonard Ramatlakane, said: "We would like to ask to convey our thanks, gratitude and appreciation to all people mentioned and to other collaborators and to the many other policemen who actively participated in the investigation that we might have forgotten to mention.
"South Africa is a beautiful country so next time we (will) come to your country to enjoy it."
It is signed by Marleen's mother Jose, her father Edwin and her younger sister Lotte.
Ramatlakane said: "It is strange that people from other countries can have so much confidence in our men and women in blue that they even write to thank them and state publicly that they will come back to our country, while people in the DA are busy rubbishing the work of the police and portraying the province in negative light.
"There may be police officials who are corrupt but the majority of these police officers are doing South Africa proud. Let us continue to build a partnership with the police."
Habitual criminal Ferdinandt Mostert was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Cape High Court in February for the "brutal and callous" murder of Konings.
Mostert was also sentenced to 20 years for the murder of former Zonderwater Prison inmate Michael John Victor, and an extra 80 years for fraud, theft and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
Mostert and Marleen had been travelling together for some days when they stopped at a beauty spot in the Tradouw Pass near Barrydale.
Mostert told the court that when he threatened to shoot a small buck that had appeared, she had become hysterical and he had shot her instead. He dumped her body in the area.
Mostert was arrested on January 14 in Upington for fraudulently using Marleen's credit card.
Marleen had come to South Africa to work on HIV and Aids websites specifically aimed at children.
In their letter to Ramatlakane, the Konings said: "The murder case of our daughter is closed, now we have the knowledge that South Africa is a democratic country and that you have an honest jurisdiction (justice system). No penalties are high enough for a murder but we are relieved he can do this no more to anybody else.
"We would like to express our deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation for the excellent work that you and your men have delivered in this case. We know a large group of policemen and woman worked very very hard to find Marleen and catch the suspect. It is just impossible to thank everybody, though we do want to make an effort to mention some people."
The Konings did single out Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner Mzwandile Petros, who "managed and co-ordinated all the police into one team".
Of Petros they said: "A great commissioner of police. Director A (Attie) Trollip, task team commander, who tirelessly and cleverly put all clues in this complicated investigation together and who collaborated so constructively with the police in other provinces and with our Dutch detective, Marcel De Rond.
"Captain J P Du Toit of the West Metropole played an invaluable role on providing us with counselling, guidance and support during this traumatic period.
"Captain N Alberts of Swellendam did not only work hard in the investigation but also provided us with comfort and friendship which was highly appreciated.
"Captain Piet Viljoen (was) the detective who managed to make the suspect confess and point out where to find the body of Marleen, great relief and the most important thing for us in the world."