Johannesburg High Court to hand down sentencing of ex-Clover employees guilty of double murder of security officers during strike
AfriForum's spokesperson Barry Bateman said the two former Clover workers face a possible life in prison sentence.
The Johannesburg High Court will on Monday (October 21) hand down sentencing of former Clover employees Mohale Shokane and Vusumuzi Duumba for the murder of two security guards.
The court has convicted the duo for the murder of Terence Tegg and JJ Cassanga during the February 17, 2022, violent strike of employees.
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Mohale and Duumba unleashed a savage attack on several guards outside the dairy producer’s facility in Olifantsfontein.
Tegg died on the day, and Cassanga passed away in June of that year as a result of complications from the injuries he sustained.
AfriForum’s spokesperson Barry Bateman said their Private Prosecution Unit, which represents Tegg’s fiancé Michelle Bebbington and the Cassanga family, worked closely with the police and prosecutor to gather evidence, compile the docket, and present the case to court.
In a statement, Bateman said, “Judge Mathunzi rejected the evidence of the accused, describing their versions of events as a: ‘thumb suck and an afterthought’. The court found the accused were part of the group that acted in common purpose when it attacked the security officers, and that they intended to murder Tegg and Cassanga. Mathunzi found the state’s evidence to be credible and reliable, which included the forensic analysis of the surveillance footage that AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit commissioned.”
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The distressing video footage shows how the mob of striking unionists ambushed and overwhelmed Tegg, punched and kicked him to the floor before using rocks and other items to smash his head.
Bateman said the attackers then robbed Tegg of his wallet, shotgun, and ammunition. Cassanga was chased and overwhelmed, and his head smashed and beaten.
He thanked police investigator Captain Robert Seckle and prosecutor Advocate Matthews Rampyapedi for their commitment to ensuring justice was served.
The conviction came as a relief for Tegg’s fiance, Bebbington, who said she was happy that they got to this point because it’s been a rollercoaster of a ride.
“I never thought that we would get to a point where we would get any convictions. So, I’m very, very happy with the convictions, and I have a big thank you to say to Gerrie Nel and his team and AfriForum. They’ve been fantastic. We would never have got through the first day of court if it wasn’t for them. They’ve been instrumental in helping with the case and helping me,” she said.
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