Farm murderers face the music

THREE men, two from Tembisa in Gauteng and the other from Vryheid, were found guilty by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday of attacking, robbing and killing Vryheid farmer, Willem Weites in September 2013.

Weites, a 78 year old farmer who sold milk and grain, was slain by the perpetrators when trying to rescue his daughter, Everlien, who was being held at knife point by them, after they had entered the property under the pretence of wishing to purchase milk.

Weites was shot in the head and the chest and died on the spot, according to his son, Frederik.

The attackers then dragged Everlien to the main house, while threatening to rape her, where they found her mother and demanded keys to the safe.

Two of the attackers tied up both women, while another tied up farm workers and took their cellphones.

Thereafter, the criminals made off with their loot in the vehicle belonging to the deceased. The vehicle was later recovered about eight kilometres away.

The attack was planned by Mzumuhle Ntshangase, 30, from Vryheid, who persuaded his accomplices, Moses Sigawuge, 34, and Big-Boy Ncube, 29, to travel from Tembisa to Vryheid by telling them that Weites kept money on the farm.

They admitted to robbing Weites and his family of R40 000 as well as other items, and confessed to the murder of Willem Weites.

Following their conviction of murder and aggravated robbery, police constable Adolph Engelbrecht testified that investigation of their cellphone records placed the men at the scene.

Acting Judge Thoba Poyo-Dlwati will hand down a sentence on Friday.