Senekal suspects made incriminating remarks, argues prosecution
The state believes Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa - the two men alleged to have murdered farm manager Brendin Horner - may have bragged and confessed to the killing while enjoying beers a few hours after the murder.
Presenting his information at the Senekal magistrate ’ s court on Friday, where the bail bid of the accused was being heard, the prosecutor told the court the state had at least two witnesses who could attest to this.
One witness had allegedly submitted an affidavit to the police, saying he had seen Mahlamba and Matlaletsa seated together at a local tavern on the day after Horner’s murder.
The witness said he overheard Matlaletsa tell a third person how [Mahlamba] and him went to a farm and assaulted a white man who had disturbed you”, the prosecution said.
Mahlamba refuted this, saying he had never been to the farm where Horner was killed.
He denied socialising with Matlaletsa, says Matlaletsa was simply a neighbour who he saw around.
Another witness has allegedly given a statement under oath claiming she saw the two suspects coming from the direction of the farm where the deceasedwas killed on October 2, the morning after Horner was murdered.
” Your clothes were wet and bloodstained,” the prosecutor said.
Mahlamba also disputed this witness’s testimony, maintaining he had spent the evening of October 1 in the company of his girlfriend.
He denied being involved in 21-year-old Horner’s murder, adding that he did not know Horner nor the details of his murder.
In his testimony earlier on Friday, Mahlamba maintained two pairs of bloodstained trousers found in his house were not stained with Horner’s blood. He claimed the blood came from a sheep he had helped slaughter at a local house.
The prosecutor, however, said a local woman, named only as Pinky, had denied this evidence.
“The police followed that version up and possess an affidavit by Pinky. She confirms a traditional fest did take place at her house in September, but she denies you attended the feast and denies you helped to slaughter the sheep, ” the prosecution put to Mahlamba.
“I was there,” he retorted through an interpreter.
Mahlamba’s alibi is that on the night of Horner’s murder, he was at home in the company of his girlfriend.
The prosecution however, said an affidavit given by his girlfriend under oath suggested the couple did not spend the entire night together.
The bail application continues. In attendance in the court gallery were EFF leader Julius Malema and police minister Bheki Cele. Meanwhile, one person has been arrested after being found in possession of an illegal firearm at a roadblock just outside Senekal, Cele confirmed.
He said police started setting up roadblocks leading to the farming town on Thursday in anticipation of crowds attending the bail hearing.
Cele said several people carrying firearms were asked to turn around.
Earlier, EFF supporters shouted “shoot, shoot, shoot” during a tense stand-off between farmers, bikers and community members. EFF supporters allegedly threw rocks, bricks and empty beer bottles at bikers who attempted to pass the main road of Senekal.
Members of the farming community across SA gathered in Senekal to raise awareness about farm attacks.
State security minister Ayanda Dlodlo said there had not been “worrisome ” incidents in the town on Friday.
Dlodlo commended the police for handling the situation very well.”