Staff Reporter
Five farmers from Parys who were convicted of common assault and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm were on Friday sentenced to correctional supervision and suspended sentences by the Parys Circuit Court.
Judge Cornè van Zyl sentenced Gert van der Westhuizen, 54, and Anton Loggenberg, 54, to correctional supervision for 15 months after she convicted them of common assault and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Cornelius Loggenberg, 22, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of three years for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Lodewikus van der Westhuizen, 23, was sentenced to six months for common assault, 15 months for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and another six months for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences were wholly suspended for a period of three years.
Gert van Vuuren was sentenced to 10 months for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The sentence was wholly suspended for a period of three years.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said in a statement the five were charged on two counts of murder after they were accused of being involved in the death of Samuel Tjixa, 35, and Simon Jubeba on January 6, 2016.
Judge Van Zyl acquitted the accused on the murder charge and convicted them on competent verdict.
According to the state, Tjixa and Jubeba went to the house of their employer, Loedie van der Westhuizen, 72, to demand their salaries after they had not been paid for November.
A confrontation ensued at Van der Westhuizen’s Kockrust Farm, resulting in him alerting a security company of an attack on his farm.
A group of local farmers then traced and confronted Tjixa and Jubeba about eight kilometres from the farm and assaulted them.
Tjixa was admitted to the Parys Provincial Hospital and Jubeba was transported to Pelonomi Hospital.
Jubeba was declared dead on arrival, while Tjixa died a day later.