Two men arrested in connection with the discovery of a Modimolle businessman's decomposing remains will now face an additional charge of murder, police said on Friday.
Senior Superintendent Vish Naidoo said the arrested men, Josias Mokubedi, 35, and Lucas Machaba, 39, appeared in the Bela Bela Regional Court on Thursday where a charge of murder was added to those they already face of kidnapping and armed robbery.
The decomposing remains of Giovanni Abbatemarco were found on the grounds of his Thaba Monati Game Lodge outside Bela Bela on June 25.
He was reported missing in February.
Investigations led police to conclude that he was kidnapped and robbed on the night of February 27, 2009 before being bundled into his own vehicle and driven away.
When Mokubedi and Machaba were arrested they claimed they had left Abbatemarco alive, but at that stage he could not be found.
Mokubedi was a former employee of Abbatemarco.
Naidoo said since the murder charge had been added, police would now have more time to investigate.
The men would next appear in court on July 7. - Sapa