Rustenburg - A man who allegedly shot dead a farmer appeared in the Leeudoringstad Periodical Court in North West on Tuesday.
The case against Joseph Hala, 24, was postponed to November 4
for a formal bail application and for further investigation, said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.
Hala and two other men allegedly tied up two employees, a man and a woman, on the farm Droekraal around 2pm on Saturday.
When the farm owner arrived a few minutes later he was shot dead. The three allegedly put him in the boot of his car and fled the scene. The two employees managed to untie themselves and pressed a panic button which alerted neighbouring farmers. One of them saw the men leave in the farmer's vehicle.
They gave chase and a shoot-out ensued about 30km from Makwassie. Two of the robbers died on the scene while Hala was arrested. Police confiscated four firearms.
Hala was admitted to hospital under police guard at the time but has since been released.
A preliminary investigation found that he had been accused of house robbery in 2012 but was acquitted.
Mokgwabone said on Monday that investigations were under way to determine if action would be taken against the two farmers who shot dead the two alleged robbers.
“Murder cases into the matter have been opened and once investigations are conducted, the court will decide whether the neighbours will be charged,” Mokgwabone said.
Sapa