The NPA spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, tells OFM News that the trio appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday and they were remanded in custody after the case was postponed to 3 August. 

He says the 41-year-old Kopano Tjobo, his 34-year-old brother Tshukudiso Tjobo, and their 39-year-old friend Thapelo Monnane will appear for a formal bail hearing. The two brothers are accused of the brutal murder of Kopano's wife Sefora Tjobo, while Monnane is accused of attempting to distort the investigation. The trio was arrested on Monday after it appeared that the husband of the deceased stabbed and strangled his wife to death, while his brother held her down.

OFM News previously reported that the Free State Police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, said the husband is alleged to have killed his wife earlier this month after luring her outside the house on false pretenses.

He said the police had discovered that the husband and his brother carefully planned the murder while their friend attempted to cover their tracks.

Makhele said: "It was alleged by Kopano that on 2 July 2020, at about 08:00 his wife, Sefora, left the house and later that day her husband Kopano, became suspicious after he found a letter that stated that she was going to meet someone near Dinaweng, her cell phone was left next to the letter.

He further stated that on Saturday 4 July at about 13:44 he went to look for his wife at the field next to Dinaweng and found her body in a dam next to Dewetsdorp Road, then alerted the police.

According to the police, it appears that the husband of the deceased lied about his whereabouts during that fateful day.

Makhele added that after a case of murder was opened for investigation and when questioned, the husband indicated that he was with his friend at the friend's place during the day of the murder. Further investigations, however, revealed that the murder was planned by the husband and his brother.

"The letter that was supposedly written by the deceased was also drafted by the brother Tshukudiso, so as to distort the investigation and it was later discovered that the deceased was lured out of the house by her husband making sure that neighbours saw her walking out alone so that her disappearance will not be linked to him.

"He then followed her to a place in Dinaweng where they were to meet so as to do a ritual and once there, the husband allegedly stabbed and strangled her whilst the brother was holding her," he further adds. Makhele continued to explain that after dropping the body they went to their friend Thapelo to help them with covering their tracks.

OFM News