Henri van Breda 'handed himself into police' over family's brutal murder

The 21-year-old member of a former Perth family has reportedly handed himself in to police over the brutal murder of his parents and brother with an axe last year in South Africa.

Businessman Martin van Breda, his wife Teresa and their eldest son Rudi, 22, were killed and daughter Marli, 16, was seriously injured in an attack in their home at the De Zalza golf estate last year, South African media reports.

Henri van Breda reportedly handed himself in to police in connection with the deaths of his mother, father and older brother.

South African News 24 reports that Mr van Breda went to Stellenbosch police at 3.30pm on Monday afternoon with someone who appeared to be his lawyer.

Police in Stellenbosch have confirmed a 21-year-old man had been charged but would not say if it was Mr van Breda.

The van Breda family had lived in Perth for several years while the children went to school before returning to their native South Africa in 2014.

Mr and Mrs van Breda and 22-year-old Rudi were found dead in the exclusive De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate in the Stellenbosch region, east of Cape Town, on January 27, 2015.

Their 16-year-old daughter Marli was almost killed by severe head wounds and suffered from a severed jugular, but has since made an impressive recovery and is back at school.

Henri van Breda, who attended Scotch College with his elder brother, survived the attack with minor injuries, leading to speculation he may have been responsible.

He reportedly told police at the time that his family were attacked by an intruder, who knocked him unconscious.

Henri van Breda is expected to face court on Monday on three charges of murder and the attempted murder of his sister.