Trio facing murder rap after assaulting man at farm

THREE men accused of assaulting another man who was in search of water to death on a chicken farm in Brits, whereafter they allegedly loaded his lifeless body on the back of a bakkie, are facing a charge of murder in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.

- ZELDA VENTER

The body of Dumisani Phakathi was discovered by the police on the back of the bakkie during a roadblock. The body was covered with plastic bags filled with garbage. According to an autopsy report, Phakathi died of blunt force trauma to the head.

In terms of the State's version, the deceased came to fetch water at the farm on September 16, 2023, when he was allegedly attacked by the three accused, who were busy having a braai. Jaco Kemp, Louis Coetzee and Gert van der Westhuizen pleaded not guilty to murder.