The DA has called for the establishment of a ‘rural safety unit’ in the wake of another farm murder – Photo: Unsplash
Farm ATTACKS: Murder and robbery suspects appear in court
A farm attacker who held up a woman and her two children at knifepoint in their home has been dealt a just punishment.
The DA has called for the establishment of a ‘rural safety unit’ in the wake of another farm murder – Photo: Unsplash
Tshidiso Andries Matsoele, 43, appeared in the Free State High Court this week to facing charges related to a farm attack and farm murder in Smithfield in December 2020.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said that Matsoele had allegedly been involved in the murder of Poenkie Bisset, 73, on the farm Korhaanfontein in the Smithfield district on 14 December 2020.
“Her husband, Arthur, left to work on the farm in the morning and upon his return he found his wife murdered next to her vehicle. Matsoele was arrested on the same day,” Makhele said.
The farm murder case was postponed for the trial, which will continue from 28 February 2022 until 04 March 2022 for the investigating officer and forensic specialist to testify. Matsoele will remain in custody.
Hefty sentence handed down for farm robbery
In an unrelated incident, Petrus Ndlovu, was sentenced to 12 years direct imprisonment for an armed robbery he committed on a farm, in the Free State High Court on Wednesday. He had robbed Catrina Dlamini, 62, at her home on Rietspruit Farm in Vrede where she lived with her two children. The incident occurred on the 22 December 2020.
“Ndlovu knocked on the door and when Dlamini opened, he forced his way into the house and threatened her and the two children aged 10 and 12 with a knife,” Makhele said.
“He forced them into a bedroom and demanded money and bank cards with pin numbers. He then locked them inside the house and left,” he said.
“One of the girls managed to untie herself and others, and ran to the neighbouring farm to summon her grandfather. The suspect was arrested and sentenced this week,” Makhele said.
SAPS Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane assured the community that the police were paying the necessary attention to criminal investigations in rural areas.
“The police will not leave any stone unturned in the pursuit of leads that may lead to the arrests and sentencing in farm murders,” Motswenyane said.
