Accused number one, Sekwetje Mahlamba, testified during the bail application on Friday and denied knowing his co-accused, Sekola Matlaletsa, nor having been near the crime scene where Horner's body was found tied to a pole with injuries to his head and face. 

Mahlamba, who is out on bail on a stock theft charge, took the stand to give testimony on why he should be released on bail on the murder charge, while Matlaletsa refused to take the stand. OFM News' Lucky Nkuyane reports he instead wrote a statement which was read out in court.

In his written statement to the Magistrate, Matlaletsa says the state does not have a strong case against him and that he is of the opinion that the state's case against him is circumstantial at best. The bail hearing is set to continue with the closing arguments both from the state prosecutor, first accused's legal representative, Advocate Joseph Kgoelenya, and Advocate Peter van der Merwe for the second accused. The bail hearing continues and it is being attended by leaders of the EFF, Police Minister Bheki Cele, and State Security minister Ayanda Dlodlo.

The two were arrested by the police on Saturday 3 October. According to reports, police received a call from other farmers reporting the attack at the De Rots Farm and while police were on the scene, they seized a knife from the scene and his Toyota Hilux was later found with bloodstains, abandoned near the Duikfontein Farm in Paul Roux.

Police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, earlier said: "Bloodstained clothes and shoes were found and will be taken for forensic tests. The two men are alleged to be stock thieves and it is suspected that the deceased could have spotted them on that fateful day," Makhele further added.

On Tuesday, during a meeting with concerned farmers, the police minister, Bheki Cele, reacted to the news that one suspect in the case has been arrested 16 times by the police. The suspect has been arrested nine times for stock theft and convicted four times. He also mentioned that the second suspect in the murder case of Horner was arrested three times, of which one was for stock theft.

 OFM News