The Northern Cape High Court has sentenced two men to 18 years in prison for murder and an additional five years for robbery in connection with the brutal killing of 60-year-old farmer Renier Adrian Jooste. The sentences will run concurrently.
The incident occurred in January 2018 on Jooste’s plot near Jan Kempdorp, where he was severely assaulted and left with a fatal stab wound to the chest. His naked body was later discovered by an employee. The assailants fled with valuables, including bank cards, cell phones, electrical tools, and alcoholic beverages belonging to the deceased.
Following an intensive investigation, the SAPS Provincial Organized Crime Unit, supported by the K9 Unit and the SAPS Crime Scene Management Centre, tracked down three suspects on a chicken farm near Jan Kempdorp. Most of the stolen items were recovered during the operation.
On 22 May 2025, the court delivered its verdict:
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Accused 1: Lucky Bohelo (26) was acquitted of all charges.
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Accused 2: Kernels Persent (23) and Accused 3: Maxim Hutama (24) were both sentenced to 18 years for murder and five years for robbery, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, praised Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Dibebe and his team from the Provincial Organized Crime Investigations Unit for their thorough work, which led to the successful conviction.
“This outcome demonstrates the SAPS’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of violent crime,” said Lt. Gen. Otola.
The ruling brings closure to a case that has spanned over seven years, underscoring the persistence of law enforcement in tackling serious and organized crime.
South Africa Today has been covering farm attacks and farm murders since early 2014, read about more farm attacks here.
