Five suspects are expected to appear at the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 11 January 2024 in connection with the incident of farm attack whereby a farmer, Mr Jannie Weideman (59) was murdered and the incident was reported on 21 December 2023.
It is said that the wife became suspicious when she could not get hold of her husband on the phone whilst visiting a family member in Middleburg. She then decided to contact a neighbour who went and checked. Shockingly, the neighbour discovered the lifeless body of Mr Weideman in the living room.
Police in Ermelo were notified about the gruesome discovery and an investigation was immediately instituted in order to trace the perpetrators.
After the hard work by the Ermelo Investigation Team and Secunda Murder and Robbery Unit, Police managed to bring five suspects behind bars with the assistance of members from the Mpumalanga Tactical Response Team.
Three suspects, aged between 23 and 34 were arrested on Monday, 08 January 2024. Few hours later, two additional suspects aged 35 and 37 were arrested on Tuesday, 09 January 2024.
Police continued with the investigation which led to the recovery of three firearms which were reportedly stolen during the farm attack as well as an extra firearm that was reported stolen in Piet Retief in May 2022.
Police are currently investigating if the recovered firearm reportedly stolen in Piet Retief was not used during the farm attack.
As a result, two more suspects, Vusumuzi Mandlazi (39) and Robert Shabalala (49) were arrested for illegal possession of firearms with ammunition and appeared at the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today, 10 January 2024. Police cannot rule out possibilities of adding more charges in connection with the farm attack against the two suspects pending further investigation. The two remained in custody whilst the case was postponed to 15 January 2024 for further investigation.
During the farm attack, a safe for a rifle as well as jewellery which worth more than R300 000 and a Toyota Hilux were stolen. Though the vehicle was found abandoned in Breyten the following day but the battery was missing. However, when arresting the suspects, the battery suspected to have been stolen from the bakkie during the farm attack, was found in possession of one of the suspects.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended members of the Police who worked round the clock and connected the dots to the farm attack incident which led to the arrest as well as recovery of some of the stolen properties.
