The case has been hampered by numerous delays due to the unavailability of DNA results following the killing of Horner at Paul Roux near Fateng Tse-Ntsho in October 2020. The duo, Sekwetja Mahlambi and Sekola Matlaletsa, who are both in custody, are heading back to court to face charges of murder. The state previously said a DNA sample, taken from the bloodied trousers of Mahlambi in Fateng Tse-Ntsho, was being analysed by the state's laboratory.

During the earlier bail application in Senekal, the court heard that the DNA samples taken from Horner's bakkie could not be linked to the accused because the results were inconclusive and could not be analysed. The court also heard that it could take up to six months to obtain results from blood samples taken from Mahlambi's pair of trousers.

Advocate Machini Motloung, representing Matlaletsa, accused the state of violating the rights of the two accused. He told OFM News that the state is denying them a speedy trial in terms of section 35(3)(b) of the Constitution.

In December 2020, the High Court in Bloemfontein denied Mahlambi bail after he had approached it to appeal his bail denial by Magistrate Deon van Rooyen.

OFM News