TWO men have been handed life sentences by the Kroonstad Regional Court for the brutal murder of a local farmer, Eric David Wessels, whose death shocked the Free State community.
Mandau Sejani (50) and Daniel Mosiuwa Motaung (52) were each sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and an additional seven years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The sentences will run concurrently.
The court heard that during the night of 24 to 25 October 2020, the two men broke into Wessels’s farmhouse, where they launched a vicious and calculated attack.
They assaulted the 58-year-old farmer with blunt objects, tied his hands behind his back and suffocated him by covering his head with a plastic bag.
After killing him, the assailants fled the scene with several stolen items, including Wessels’s vehicle, which was later recovered by police.
In court, Advocate Dansi Mpemvane, appearing for the State, urged the magistrate to impose the maximum penalty, describing the killing as “heinous and senseless”.
He said the attack epitomised the growing threat of violent crime that continues to plague farming and rural communities.
In delivering judgment, the presiding magistrate agreed with the prosecution that the circumstances of the murder warranted the harshest sentence available under the law.
The magistrate emphasised that the brutality of the attack showed no regard for human life.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the ruling, saying it represents a victory for justice and a step forward in protecting rural communities from violent attacks.
“Human life is sacred, and the value we place on it can never be overstated,” said Mojalefa Senokoatsane, NPA regional spokesperson for the Free State.
“This sentence serves as a clear message that those who commit violent and despicable crimes will face the full might of the law.”
Senokoatsane added that the NPA remains steadfast in pursuing justice without fear, favour, or prejudice – particularly in cases involving violent crimes against farmers and rural residents.
“We will continue to pursue these cases with vigour and determination not only to bring justice to victims and their families but also to deter others who may consider committing such brutal acts,” he said.
The murder of Wessels, a respected farmer in the Kroonstad area, had sent shockwaves through the agricultural community, highlighting ongoing concerns about rural safety in the Free State. – Staff Reporter