Four men appear in court for farm murder and attempted murder

4 August 2023

The four accused who were arrested in connection with the murder of a farmer, Theo Bekker (79), and the attempted murder of his wife appeared before the Balfour Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Siyanda Gift Ziqubu (18), and Kgahliso Motoung (18), together with their two juvenile co-accused are facing charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, pointing of a firearm, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

The case has been postponed to 07 August 2023, for legal representation and the accused are remanded in custody pending the outcome of their bail application. It is alleged that on 30 July 2023, the accused acted for a common purpose and went to the victims’ place in Grootvlei, in Balfour. On their arrival, they attacked the deceased and demanded money and a firearm from him. It is further alleged that they suffocated the deceased’s wife with a plastic bag and assaulted her several times. They then rob the victims of an undisclosed amount of money, a firearm, and a vehicle which they drove away with.

The accused ‘s arrest comes after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in an accident in Villiers, Free State. The police were alerted and went to attend the crime scene. While searching the vehicle, it transpired that the firearm found in the vehicle as well as the vehicle belong to the victims of robbery in Mpumalanga. Due to the seriousness of the offence, the accused are charged with the state will oppose bail.

Issued by Monica Nyuswa, NPA Regional Spokesperson, 4 August 2023