Johannesburg - Two men have been convicted by the Pietermaritzburg High Court and will be sentenced next year after they pleaded guilty to a farm attack.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said the duo, Sibusiso Mbatha, 23, and Ayanda Mncube, 21, were convicted for murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The case was postponed to 22 January for sentencing.
"On 4 November 2017 at 5:30, the victim, Daniel Swanepoel, 57, was alone at his farmhouse at Eensgevonden, Vryheid, when he was attacked by the suspects," Zwane said.
"His wife was not at home at the time. The suspects severely stabbed the victim, demanding credit cards and cash from him."
Zwane said the victim told Mbatha and Mncube that he didn't have any money, which led to them continuing to stab him.
"The man died as a results of injuries he sustained. The suspects waited for his wife to return and around 15:00 on the same day, his wife arrived and she was grabbed by the suspects."
"They forced her into her vehicle and drove away. She was forced to withdrew cash from the nearby ATM, using her credit cards."
Zwane said Mbatha and Mncube drove around with the woman until later that night when she managed to alert motorists that were passing by in the area that she was in trouble.
"Neighbourhood Watch came for assistance and arrested one suspect and the second one managed to escape."
The Provincial Organised Crime members took over the investigation and the second suspect was arrested the following day, Zwane added.
"Both suspects were charged with all three counts and taken to court."
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa commended the investigative team for their hard work that led to the arrest and conviction of both suspects. “I also thanked the local community, specially Neighbourhood Watch who came and sacrificed their lives by assisting the victim in this matter. We are proud of them being involved in the fight against crime in our province,” he said.