Farm attacks 'definitely linked'
2006-07-03 13:50
Johannesburg - Ten people appeared briefly in the Carolina magistrate's court on Monday in connection with three farm attacks in June, Mpumalanga police said.
Superintendent Izak van Zyl said the case was postponed to August 2 for further investigation. The 10 were remanded in custody.
The Mpumalanga serious and violent crimes unit arrested the men in White River and Nelspruit.
The accused are: Vusi Makabane, 22, and his brother Jan Makabane, 25, Sipho Nyamane, 24, Jacob Mavuso, 25, Charlie Mahlangu, 22, Beki Hadebe, 19, July Nkabinde, 25, Thomas Magagula, 18, Dumisani Gwebu, 19, and Goodman Bhembe, 19.
The attacks took place on June 11, 13 and 19. In the last attack, Thys Boshoff, 66, was shot dead and his wife wounded in the hand when they tried to keep their assailants out of their home.
Farm attacks 'linked'
Nobody was killed or seriously injured in the other two incidents.
In one, security guards on the farm Drenthe were attacked and forced to hand over weapons. Two of these weapons were used in the attack on Boshoff.
Van Zyl said six of the suspects were charged with Boshoff's murder.
Some of these six also face charges of armed robbery with the remaining four in connection with the other two attacks.
"There are definitely links between the incidents," said Van Zyl.
Police also confiscated six firearms and some ammunition.
- SAPA