Cape Town – The family of an elderly farmer and his wife who were burnt beyond recognition when robbers attacked them and set their farmhouse alight in Limpopo, reportedly remained in shock as their alleged killers appeared in the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Louis Cloete, 74, and his wife, Ina, 66, were attacked on their Levubu farm, outside Thohoyandou on Wednesday last week.
According to News24, family spokesperson Fanie Havinga said the son and daughter of the couple were shocked by the extreme violence their parents had endured.
“The family is very sad about the incident. It is very shocking that the suspects are young, aged 19 years old, but could go to such an extreme type of violence on the elderly.
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“He (Cloete) was born on the farm and grew up there for the whole of his life. It was one of the farms that was sold to land claimants, but it was rented back to the couple,” the report quoted Havanga as saying.
The two accused, Engetelo Advice Sambo and Mukhethwa Goodman Magoma, both 19, were arrested the day after the murder in Hasani Dakari village, in the Malamulele area, the report said.
They briefly appeared in court on Monday amid protests by farmers and residents. They faced charges of housebreaking, robbery, murder and arson, the report said.
NPA spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi, said the case against Magoma and Sambo was postponed to May 11 for investigation, IOL reported.
On the day of the incident, “It is alleged that a passer-by noticed two strangers wandering in the premises. Apparently, the two, who were about to leave the premises in the vehicle belonging to the farmer, were disturbed and fled the scene on foot, leaving the vehicle full of items belonging to the farmer,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said.
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Police were notified and on arrival reportedly found the farmhouse on fire with the farmer and his wife inside. The victims were burnt beyond recognition.
“A preliminary investigation indicated that the couple were “accosted” by the suspects who ransacked the farmhouse and took several items, including firearms, and loaded them into the family vehicle.
“They apparently then set the house alight before leaving,” said Ledwaba.
Following the incident, a 72-hour activation plan was ordered to find the suspects.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
