Three arrested after Hartbeespoort farm attack and murder

Three alleged farm attackers who killed a man in Hartbeespoort on Wednesday, 7 April, have been arrested.

From left to right The police officers who worked around the clock to trace and arrest the three farm attackers are Sgt Enock Sejamoholo, R/Contable Mike Schwartz, Constable Patric Guenha, Sgt Alfred Mpye and Sgt Walter Ngobeni.

The three allegedly tortured and murdered the 41-year security guard, Samuel Maposa (41) on a farm in Remhoogte. Maposa’s body was discovered by fellow workers in a ditch near a storeroom in the farmyard. He had multiple face and head injuries, and his hands and feet were tied.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh, two doors to the store were broken and agricultural chemicals with an estimated value of R30 000.00 were stolen. “Information was received on Thursday, 8 April 2021, about individuals selling agricultural chemicals in the Schaumburg informal settlement in Broederstroom,” she said. Members of the Hartbeespoort police Crime Prevention Unit arrested two suspects at the settlement around 01:30. The third suspect was found and arrested at his place in Bapong near Brits.

The police seized agricultural chemicals, a Toyoya Hilux bakkie that is suspected to have been used during the attack, as well as blood-stained clothes.

They were charged with murder and house robbery. The three men, Ricardo Masango (27), Bothwell Chigova (24) and Simon Nyathela (31), appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 12 April 2021. They will remain in custody until their next court appearance on Tuesday, 20 April 2021.