Brenda speaks very softly. She explains she is from Birmingham in the UK. Jason was born in England. When he was 11 months old, they moved to SA to be with her parents.
Brenda on Jason: "He was a normal child. Very happy go lucky, very easy to discipline, made friends, loved very much by the whole family. He was just a very easygoing baby." When he was 14 months old, she parted ways with his father.
Brenda: My husband and I came to a mutual agreement to separate and then divorce. He settled in JHB and I went to my parents, who helped me with Jason as a toddler. Unfortunately my husband completely disappeared.
Brenda: I put an ad in the newspaper and that is how we got divorced. I heard rumours that his father had gone to Australia and then the UK. I was 21 and Jason was about 2. Met current husband, who I have been married to for 46 years, when Jason was about 3.
Brenda: My current husband and I married when Jason was about 4.5 years. Jason and him just fell in love with each other. It has been fantastic since day one. He wanted Jason to take his name so he formally adopted him.
Brenda: We had another child just before Jason was 9. She was diagnosed as being deaf at 12 months. She is now happily married, made a business from horses.
Brenda: His sister Victoria has always adored Jason. She has always put him on a pedestal, always admired the man he is. Admired him as a father figure, a businessman. He was always there for her at any time of need. She just loves him.
Brenda says Jason was an average student and loved playing cricket. He was also cricket captain. "He was very well-liked, had both male and female friends".... Still friends with some of them today.
Brenda says Jason was accepted at King Edward school as a boarder during the week. "He did play an active role in sports activities there, mainly rugby... He was popular with his friends.... He made very good friends."
Brenda says she is sure Jason got up to mischief but she never had any complaints or disciplinary. "He has a dry sense of humour and can be very funny in a quiet way." He seemed to attract very decent, like-minded friends.
Brenda says they wanted Jason to travel after school but he insisted on getting his two years of military training over and done with. He became an officer. when that was done, he started studying for a B Com
Much against his parents' wishes, he quit tertiary studies after meeting Susan. He wanted to be self-sufficient and earn some money. "They married very young... we were very happy with his choice of girl. A lovely girl."
Jason and Susan moved to Australia to be with her family. They stayed there for about three years. Brenda says Susan loved it but Jason loved South Africa and it wasn't home for him.
Brenda: My husband was a cruise operator and I helped him. I later became an estate agent and started a business with Jason and my business partner.
Brenda says they were the three shareholders of their real estate agency. Lew Geffen approached us to buy us out and become a franchise. Jason recognised the importance of being a brand name. Geffen returned and we became business partners instead.
Brenda: Mr Geffen allowed Jason to work as a CEO for Sothebys and also help our business on a management basis.
Brenda: You have got to know Jason to love him. He appears to be aloof and standoffish when you first meet him. As you get to know him, you realise that that is just his manner, that is the way he is.
Brenda: "I know this is what a lot of mothers would be saying but Jason as a son, with all his family and as far as I know his friends, is good, kind, loyal and trusting."
Brenda explains that when Jason is angry, he goes quiet and walks away "which I admit, can be a bit difficult being the other person. He doesn’t sulk, he is not moody."
Brenda: "I have thought back and there is honestly nothing that I can repeat that has even come closer to being physical at all.... I have seen no physical act of aggression from Jason at all."
Brenda says no one has complained to her about Jason being violent. "If it has happened, I am totally unaware of it and I don’t think it has, as he doesn’t like aggression at such. He hates the display of violence. He is a gentle person."
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