Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
27 June 2024
Sarel Petrus Du Plessis (52), has been sentenced to life and an additional 38 years imprisonment for murder, three counts of attempted murder, an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition on Tuesday, 25 June 2024,by the Mpumalanga High Court.
The accused was working as a security manager, and the incident happened near Uniform Farm, Tendabosch, in the district of Komatipoort.
On 05 December 2018, the deceased Bhekimuzi Anele Ziko (18), his elder brother, and their two friends were walking around Daisa Farm in Komatipoort looking for temporary jobs since it was litchi harvest time. They continued going in and around with the hope of securing jobs.
The accused concluded that they were trespassing and intending to steal litchis from the farm. He then drove in their direction, stopped the vehicle, and took out his firearm. He started shooting at the victims; one died, and three ran away.
In court, the accused denied the allegations levelled against him, and State Advocate Eugene Mathebula led evidence from the surviving victims, who told the court about how the events unfolded on the day.
Victim impact statements compiled by the deceased’s mother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nomfundo Mokoena, wherein she detailed the pain and trauma caused by the accused in her life, were presented.
She said the incident left her emotionally and physically traumatised. She was even diagnosed with a chronic illness.
In aggravation of the sentence, the state argued that the accused abused his power as a security manager and killed a defenceless young job seeker.
Before handing in the sentence, the presiding officer, Judge Nelisa Phiwokazi Mali, highlighted that the sentence must serve as a deterrent to society. She found no reason to justify a deviation from the pprescribed,ordained sentence.
Du Plessis was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, ten years imprisonment on each count of attempted murder, five years for unlicensed possession of a firearm, and three years for possession of ammunition.
The court ordered the sentence of life to run concurrently with the sentence imposed on other counts. Effectively, the accused will serve life imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority is satisfied with the sentence and hopes that the deceased’s family will find solace and closure by removing the accused from society.
