THREE MEN APPEARED IN COURT FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING A GERMAN TOURIST
27 February 2024
The three Zimbabwean nationals, Jan Thabonga Moshabi (36), Abstein Madzvimbo(22) and Thomas Moyo(39) appeared before the Northam Magistrates Court on charges of murder and contravening illegal immigration act. It is alleged that the suspects assaulted and killed a male German tourist, Herman Gunter Friedrich Westphal(74), at Northam.
The deceased was on a tour from Botswana on Friday and drove to South Africa in a Toyota sedan motor vehicle and arrived at Lephalale in Waterberg District on Saturday morning. Along the way he offered an unknown male hitchhiker a lift whom the deceased requested to assist with accommodation around North West province before he could proceed with his tour across the country. On arrival at the said accommodation, in Moruleng, the suspect suggested they pass by a liquor outlet where they had a few drinks. That's when the suspect informed his two friends about the deceased.
The accused and his two accomplices drove with the unsuspecting victim to his ( Moshabi) place, upon arrival they tied him up and started to assault him while demanding his bank account pin code. They also searched him and took an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables.
The three suspects removed the vehicle's number plates and drove with the victim while assaulting him to Northam and using a gravel road. When they reached a certain farm the suspects dragged the victim from the vehicle and dumped him in the bushes.