Donald Seoleseng, 25, Tshepo Visagie, 43, and Tshepaone Melato, 24, were sentenced to an effective 40 years imprisonment for the robbery and murder of the Brand family on their smallholding near Hartswater. A fourth accused, Kgomotso Mpumlwana, 48, (third from left) was acquitted of all charges.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
WHILE three out of the four accused will serve lengthy sentences for the brutal murders of the Brand family, it is cold comfort for the surviving family members, whose lives were left shattered.
Danie Brand, 83, his wife Elizabeth “Breggie”, 73, and their daughter Elzabie, 54, sustained blunt and sharp force trauma to their heads, faces and bodies when they were tied up, assaulted and strangled.
The deceased were transported from their smallholding near Hartswater in two vehicles stolen from the farm. The bodies of Danie and Elzabie were abandoned under different trees in the veld. Breggie was strangled to death and her body was concealed in a cave near a natural spring.
Three of the accused - Donald Seoleseng, 25, Tshepo Visagie, 43, and Tshepaone Melato, 24 - were sentenced to an effective 40 years imprisonment for the robbery and murders.
Seoleseng and Melato asked for forgiveness for the hurt caused to the family after they were found guilty.
Donald Seoleseng (front), 25, and Tshepo Visagie 43, will serve an effective 40 years in prison.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
A fourth accused, Kgomotso Mpumlwana, 48, who was arrested while driving one of the stolen vehicles and was found in possession of the deceased’s cellphone, laptop and handbag, was acquitted of all charges.
The accused were all found not guilty on a charge of kidnapping.
Visagie's younger brother, Realeboga Manyedi, who turned State witness, was acquitted after being found to be a credible and honest witness.
He testified that Elzabie was still alive when she was left in the veld.
Heidie Taljaard questioned the callous manner in which her family was taken from her.
“The torment we’ve endured since that tragic day will never fade. It is a pain that permeates every aspect of our existence,” said Taljaard.
“What type of person attacks defenceless individuals with stones wrapped in socks, as though their lives are worthless? To show power by mercilessly destroying fragile bodies in such a savage manner? They did not just take their lives, they destroyed ours too.
“Our loved ones were kidnapped, assaulted and relentlessly tortured. The accused drove around with them for hours and finally left their broken bodies alone in the veld, a few kilometres apart on a freezing winter night. We know that they left Elzabie in the veld, knowing that she was still alive, bloody and broken.”
She pointed out that the accused could have taken the vehicles without murdering her family so gruesomely.
“Did they warn our family before they attacked them and took their lives in cold blood? Did they show any compassion for their suffering or pleas for help?”
Taljaard added that the long trial had taken a financial and emotional toll, leaving her unable to focus on her work or daily tasks.
“We tried to save the farm where my family grew up.”
She recalled how her parents were always willing to assist anyone in need.
“Our loved ones were truly extraordinary, their presence was larger than life itself. Their lives truly mattered and their legacy will live on through our memories. There is no forgiveness in my heart for any of the accused.”
Trudie de Beer added that her parents were the foundation that kept the family united, bound by love and respect.
“Whenever I felt overwhelmed and the weight of everything became too much, my parents’ home was my sanctuary - a place where I could find comfort.”
She pointed out that they were still left with many unanswered questions.
“How can the accused feel sorry when they can’t even admit to killing again and again and again? They had a chance to spare my sister Elzabie’s life, but they didn’t. Why did they tie my sister’s face so tightly that her jaw was broken? Why did they tie the rope around my mother’s mouth? I believe my dad was still alive when they loaded him into the car. Why did they tie them to the branches when they were already dead?”
She said the accused showed no mercy to Elzabie, who suffered from poor eyesight.
“We studied every injury to form an idea of what happened. The uncertainty haunts me every day. It has been almost five years and I’m still struggling to hold myself together.”
De Beer was convinced that Mpumlwana was a key role-player who had “orchestrated everything”.
“Therefore, she was responsible for the death of my parents and sister, as well as the lives of the men who followed her instructions blindly. The brutal act was carried out with hatred and intent. It was dark and evil. If the accused are not locked away for a long time, they will repeat their cruel actions on their next victims.”
Senior State advocate Adele Van Heerden pointed out that the attack was carried out on vulnerable, elderly people.
She believed that Seoleseng and Melato had only expressed remorse as they felt pity for themselves and faced spending the rest of their lives in prison.
Tshepaone Melato requested forgiveness after he was convicted of the brutal murders of the Brand family.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Acting Judge Cordelia Kgopa stated that, according to medical evidence, the family members were killed before they were taken from the smallholding.
“You cannot kidnap a dead body,” she said.
She indicated that Seoloseng, Visagie and Manyedi had acted with common purpose when they attacked and robbed the family.
“The robbery was planned and the expression of their regret and remorse is questionable as they never took the court into their confidence or took responsibility for their actions.”
She rejected arguments from the defence that Seoloseng and Manyedi were influenced by Visagie because they viewed him as a father figure and he was their soccer coach.
“None of the accused were reluctant followers and participated equally in the commission of the crimes.”
Kgopa added that despite their youth, no evidence was produced regarding their immaturity.