Two of the attackers who attacked the 78 year old Albertus (Bertie) Janse van Rensburg and his wife Elizabeth on 25 May, 2017 in their farmhouse and killed Mr Van Rensburg in true execution style were convicted and got a long jail sentence in the Bronkhorstspruit regional court this past week. The jail sentence is called a life jail sentence but in South Africa convicted felons are eligible for parole after about 25 years even when sentenced to life in prison.
It appears the murderers are either Zimbabweans or Mozambicans. One of the convicted murderers is a former worker on the farm and Mr Van Rensburg was executed after he and wife were assaulted, cuffed and robbed. He was probably executed because he would be able to identify the former worker who took part in the attack.
The court heard that Mrs Van Rensburg heard something at the front door and was overpowered at the front door by a group of black male attackers, amongst them the two who were now convicted, namely Gift Matsa and Emmanuel Desancha Malandela, the former worker.
The court heard that the elderly couple was violently beaten, cuffed and robbed of items such as a firearm, cellphones, tools and coins worth about R 1000.
Mr Van Rensburg was then taken outside into the field with his hands cuffed where he was shot in the chest and head to make sure he is dead.
He was found there later with grass and sand in his grey hair and still cuffed.
Police arrested the two suspects on 22 June, 2017.
Mrs Van Rensburg moved from the farm after the attack and now lives in the city. She testified in court that she still lives in fear.
Read about more farm attacks here
South Africa Today – South Africa News
