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Family left safety of Perth

Martin van Breda, 55, his wife Theresa, 54.

Friends say fear of crime in South Africa was the main reason Martin and Teresa van Breda had packed up their lives and moved to Perth almost a decade ago.

The couple had wanted a safer life for their three children, away from the violence that has become all too common in their homeland.

But it was a business opportunity described as being simply "too good to refuse" that dragged them back about 12 months ago.

Close friend Charmaine Le Roux first met the van Bredas when she and her family moved to Perth about seven years ago and had visited them just 10 days ago at the South African home that is now a major crime scene.

She said that while they had appeared happy, fear of crime remained an ever present concern for the family who lived under virtual 24-hour guard on their exclusive golf course estate.

"Just for us to get into their place took us about 20 minutes to be cleared by security," she said. "It is such a beautiful country but fear is in your subconscious the whole time.

"We have so many unanswered questions about what's happened. The only thing that we know is that there are no signs of a break-in and it does not look like anything has been taken."

Martin van Breda was a successful businessman who owned a string of private schools in South Africa.

When he and his family first settled in Perth in late 2005, he established a property development business and quickly built up a close circle of friends, particularly within the tight-knit expat community.

The boys, Rudi and Henri both fitted in well at Scotch College, just around the corner from their home in leafy Claremont, while Marli was enrolled at the exclusive Presbyterian Ladies' College.

Mrs Le Roux said Mr van Breda was always busy with work but never failed to make time for the children and Mrs van Breda was totally devoted to them.

"She did everything for her family," Mrs Le Roux said. "She was there 24 hours for her kids - always there for them, always dropping them off, always cooking for them. She was a model mum in the sense that she put us to shame."

Former neighbour Patrick Verryn - also a South African expat - had similar memories of the van Bredas. "They were good neighbours really," he said. "It is really shocking."

The van Bredas sold their Claremont home and moved to Queensland in late 2012 because of another business opportunity and to be closer to their sons who were both studying at university in Melbourne. About a year ago, they headed back to South Africa, taking Marli with them.

Rudi had just been accepted to do his masters degree in engineering at Melbourne University but had gone back to South Africa for the Christmas break to see his family.

It is understood he was due to fly to Australia on Tuesday night.

Henri had been forced to put his studies on hold last year after doctors discovered a cyst on his brain. He had been living with his parents in South Africa while he was receiving treatment.

Exactly what happened inside their luxury home remains unclear but friends say they are convinced Henri would not have had anything to do with it.

"I understand that they (police) took him in for questioning but I understand it was as a witness, he was not under arrest and they just wanted to talk to him," Mrs Le Roux said. "He had some minor injuries and is in shock but is now with relatives."