The court case on a 2019 attack on a farm in Bonnievale, which lead to the murder of a farm owner, has finally come to a close.

Kapteinsdrift farmer Jurie “Tool” Wessels and his wife were on their farm when attacked by the accused in May 2019. This attack led to Tool’s murder, and attempted murder of his wife.

Ntabanyane John Tlali, Thabiso Nomoro Ramollo, Moeketsi Max Hlaudi and Keketso Thabang Matsabisa were seasonal workers at Kapeinsdrift at the time of the incident. The prosecution says the group were planning their attack, as they did not attend work on the day of their attack.

Wessels’ wife, Liezel, says they severely beat and tortured her and her deceased husband. She was beaten unconscious, and when she came to, the accused and her husband where no longer in the vicinity.

Wessels’ body was later found in a pump house on the farm.

The accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and attempted murder, and a further 30 years for the robbery with aggravating circumstances, the unlawful possession of firearms and contravening the Immigration Act.

Agriculture MEC, Ivan Meyer, welcomed the court’s sentencing and noted that it was a step in the right direction to ensuring justice for Wessels and his family.

“The guilty verdict and lengthy sentences imposed by Judge Dereck Wille of the Circuit High Court sends a strong message that attacks on our rural communities will never be tolerated. I am still however devastated by this loss of life and my heart still hurts for Tool, his family and loved ones.  An attack on anyone in our agricultural sector is an attack on our rural economy.”