BETHAL – Mr Hendrik Abraham (Hein) Barnard (51), believed to be the mastermind behind a conspiracy to commit murder, was granted R30 000 bail in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 13 February.
It is alleged Mr Barnard hired Mr Sunboy Sibande (35) to recruit hitmen and paid R60 000 for the hitmen to kill the leader of a group of people that are living on one of his farms.
According to Capt Dineo Sekgotlodi, spokesman for the Mpumalanga Hawks, Mr Barnard allegedly wanted people who lived on his farm, to vacate the land.
They refused and Mr Barnard went to court for an eviction order, which he lost.
It is alleged that Mr Barnard then asked Mr Sibande to organise hitmen to take out the leader of the group.
The three alleged hitmen, Messrs Bonginkosi Excellent Mnisi (33), Dumisani Robert Sambo (46) and Nomalanga Khumalo (49), were arrested last month and are still in custody.
Capt Sekgotlodi said one of the suspects was in possession of an unlicensed firearm whose serial numbers were erased.
A case was opened and an investigation led to the arrest of the five people.
All five suspects are expected to appear in Bethal Magistrate’s Court on 27 February.
Mr Barnard lost cattle last year to the value of about a million rand when the cattle were poisoned.
