The four suspects are alleged to have killed and robbed Izak Johannes Jacobus van den Berg and his wife Ockerlina van den Berg after attacking them at their home in Blouboswes near Boshof on 12 July. The state has so far called its witnesses, including the leading investigator, a fingerprint expert who sketched the murder scene and a member of the SANDF who spotted the couple's stolen double cab bakkie which was stuck in the mud along the Caledon River en route to Lesotho. The suspects are aged between 26 and 44 and each man has presented an alibi in court.

The murder trial against the alleged murderers will sit for at least two weeks where they stand charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of an unlicensed firearm. It's alleged that on that fateful day the husband, affectionately known as Sakkie in his community, left to take a worker back to town, leaving his wife at home and on the way back to the farm, he stopped to open his farm gate when he was allegedly overpowered by six suspects.

In a previous statement, the police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele said Sakkie was then taken back to his house where, together with his wife, they were tied up, brutally beaten and shot. 

The suspects were arrested in Bloemfontein and Dealesville during a 72-hour joint lockdown by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Hawks. The suspects are Johannes Sekgoro (41), Thami Terance Kat (35), Leepile Daniel Sidasi (44), and Daniel Tsekiso Seloane (26).

 OFM News