Offenders in Els farm murder stay behind bars

THE OFFENDERS sentenced for the murder and robbery of well-known Kimberley businessman Piet Els and the assault on his partner at his farm in January 2018 will remain behind bars after their appeals were recently dismissed in the Northern Cape High Court.

- SANDI KWON HOO

The convicted offenders - Morapedi Rankali, 32, Motlalentwa Qhautse, 42, Lizbeth Ndlala, 61, Themba Lawrence Maja, 63, Oupa Jeffrey Mahomane, 49, Samson "Sam" Mbokane, 68, and Jabulani Wilson Zuma - were sentenced in connection with the offence in March.

Qhautse was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, sexual assault, and murder.

Ndlala, Maja and Mbokane were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Zuma was convicted on the same charges but received a 20-year sentence due to his previous convictions.

Northern Cape High Court Judge Lawrence Lever highlighted the brutal manner in which Els and his partner were assaulted and struck over the head with an iron bar.

"It cannot be that they were not armed. Items including a bag, ring, digital camera, Kruger coins, cash and a watch were taken from the house. The accused never dissociated themselves from the stolen items or gave the money they received to the police," he said.

He added that there was a phone call between Mahomane and Mbokane during the early hours of the morning while the accused travelled to the farm "in the dead of night".

Lever stated that Qhautse was directly involved in a vicious and brutal attack on two elderly and vulnerable victims.