Police spokesperson, Adéle Myburgh, tells OFM News that the 27-year-old Doorewaard and the 34-year-old Schutte were sentenced to 18 and 23 years respectively for the murder of Matlhomola Mosweu of Coligny.

Doorewaard and Schutte were both apprehended in April 2017 in Coligny and charged with the murder of Mosweu after they murdered Mosweu for allegedly stealing sunflower heads from their employer’s farm. The duo’s arrest follows Motswenyane’s intervention after she appointed a team to investigate an incident in which it was reported that Matlhomola died after jumping from Doorewaard and Schutte’s vehicle.

Myburgh says the team was established after members of the community went on a rampage demanding the arrest of the pair and raising discomfort about the way the matter was handled by the local police station. “During the protests, including after the accused were granted R5000 bail each, businesses were looted while private properties, including houses and trucks, were set alight,” she adds. “The court found the accused guilty on charges of murder, kidnapping, intimidation, theft and the pointing of a firearm.”

The due were sentenced as follows:

Accused 1: Pieter Doorewaard (27)

Count one: Murder - 15 years imprisonment

Count two: Kidnapping - 3 years imprisonment

Count three: Intimidation-  2 years imprisonment

Count four: Theft – 1 year imprisonment

Count seven: Pointing of firearm - 2 years imprisonment

Count 2-7 will run concurrently.

Doorewaard will serve 18 years effectively in prison.

Accused 2: Phillip Schutte (34)

Count one: Murder - 20 years imprisonment

Count two: Kidnapping - 3 years imprisonment

Count three: Intimidation - 2 years imprisonment

Count four: Theft – 1 year imprisonment

Count seven: Pointing of firearm - 2 years imprisonment

Count 2-7 will run concurrently. Schutte will serve 23 years effectively in prison.

OFM News