The survivor of the brutal attack, allegedly by farmers and farmworkers at the controversial Bampoenkraal farm in Piet Retief, that claimed the lives of his brother and a friend, says he is living in fear.
On Friday, Mpumalanga police said they had arrested seven people suspected of killing Sifiso Thwala and Musa Nene, who were beaten to death in August last year after their car apparently broke down near the farm. Christopher Thwala, who was travelling with the pair, survived the killing by pretending to be dead while he lay in his car next to the bodies of his brother and his friend.
According to police, the men were accused of trying to steal sheep from the farm.
“Since the incident I have been living in fear because I knew that they wanted me dead since I am the only one who can tell the courts what happened,” Thwala said. “I am trying to survive every day because I need justice for my brother Sifiso and my friend Musa.”
Sowetan has established that three of the seven men arrested are Wiener Potgieter, 47, Zenelele Yende, 48, and Cornelius Greyling, 26, who are also suspects in the murders of the Coka brothers, Mgcini and Zenzele. They are out on R10,000 bail. The brothers were shot dead on April 15 at the same farm and their killing sparked protests during the court appearances of the accused.
Thwala’s sister, Nomalanga Thwala, told Sowetan yesterday that they were relieved that her younger brother had lived to tell the story.
“We are relieved as a family. We thought the case will not see the light of day as we have tried so many ways to have this case move forward. We had been to many offices, including the national police commissioner’s, who even ignored our calls. But after this arrest we are happy that our family will finally get justice and it’s now left with the justice department to do their job,” she said.
“Actually, here we thank God that my younger brother faked his death during the beating and managed to wake up when the police arrived, where the farmers had told the police a false story that they were stealing sheep at the farm. The fact is these people here have a way with the courts and are able to get out free all the time.”
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brig Leonard Hlathi said that after the murder of the Coka brothers more information had come, out leading to the re-arrest of the seven accused on Friday. They were first arrested last year but their case was withdrawn pending further investigations.
“Initially we arrested five people on the case and the court ordered further investigation, which made the case to delay. However, through investigation we uncovered that some of the accused in the murder of the Coka brothers were part of the murders of the Thwala brothers,” said Hlathi.
Bongani Hlatshwayo, a community leader who advocates for the wellbeing of farm dwellers, said they were relieved that the suspects had been rearrested.
“We know that the police tried to give them bail over the counter and we had to go to the police station to stop it,” he said.
The seven men are due to appear in the Piet Retief magistrate’s court today. They are facing two charges of murder, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Mpumalanga community safety, security and liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has welcomed the arrests.
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