Brendin Horner murder case: Judgment to be delivered on Friday

The men accused of killing 21-year-old Brendin Horner returns to the Bethlehem High Court on Friday to stand trial as key witnesses were expected to testify against the pair.

The case of Brendin Horner’s murder

Murdered by strangling

Sekola Matlaletsa, 44, and Sekwetje Mahlamba, 32, were accused of strangling Horner in his home near Paul Roux in the Free State, back in October 2020.

At the time, Matlaletsa was granted bail by the Senekal Magistrate’s Court while Mahlamba remained behind bars.

He was later granted R5,000 bail on the condition he report to the police station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8am and 5pm.

Eyewitness reportedly intimidated

One of the eyewitnesses, Boy Khambule, claimed in his testimony that he had seen the men the morning after Horner’s death; he said they had been wearing bloody clothes.

However, he later rescinded his statement, claiming he had been intimidated by police.

Khambule reportedly told Eyewitness News that while he had seen them in bloody clothes, it had been at 6am at a tavern. Horner was murdered later that day, around 7pm.

Case resumes Friday

It’s been reported that the state dropped murder charges against Matlaletsa and Mahlamba, and would instead proceed with a charge of livestock theft instead.

This is related to the theft of two sheep in March 2020, seven months prior to Horner’s death. However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) denied the reports.

NPA spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the state presented its case, and it has subsequently been rolled over for judgment.

“There is no charge that the state is withdrawing because all the charges have been placed on record and have been argued,” Shuping said.

Judgment in the case will be delivered in the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 19 November 2021.