Provincial police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, tells OFM News the suspect in custody is a 52-year-old Senekal resident, who farms in nearby Marquard. According to Makhele, the apprehension comes on the back of an investigation – led by a senior officer – aimed at bringing those responsible for the vandalism and arson to book. Makhele says the suspect in question will appear before the Senekal Magistrate’s Court within a 48-hour window.

The accused will be facing malicious damage to property and public violence charges, whilst Makhele says more arrests are imminent. On Tuesday, what started out as a peaceful demonstration aimed at demanding justice for 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner, turned violent - following the brief court appearances of Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa, who are aged 32 and 44 years old. 

Approximately 100 demonstrators, among them armed individuals, reportedly stormed into the court building following the court appearance, demanding the suspects be handed over. They overturned a police van and torched it.

Free State Police Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane, has commended the police for attending to the matter with urgency. On a national level, Police Minister Bheki Cele has condemned the retaliation from the farming community explaining that “no-one has the right to take the law into their own hands - no matter what the situation is. This type of lawlessness can't be justified nor taken lightly”.  

Horner was found tied to a pole in an open space situated at the De Rots farm last week. He had sustained bruises to the head and neck.
The men accused of killing him - Mahlamba and Matlaletsa - will re-appear in the Paul Roux Magistrate’s Court on 16 October. Paul Roux is over 35 kilometers away from Senekal. The duo was nabbed on Saturday by Senekal detectives at Fateng-tse-Ntho.

Additional police officials have been deployed to the area from Welkom and Bloemfontein to ensure the situation remains calm.

OFM News