Accused in triple murder trial allowed to go to the bank

DA MPL Reinette Liebenberg has slammed the 30-minute delay in the murder trial of the four people accused of brutally killing the Brand family near Hartswater, after one of the accused was allowed to go to the bank on May 22.

Proceedings in the Northern Cape High Court were scheduled to resume at 10am on Monday but only started at around 10.30am.

Liebenberg said that state resources were being wasted after the accused had to be escorted to and from the bank.

"There is a possibility that an accused may try to escape from custody while on a bank excursion or may endanger members of the public,” said Liebenberg.

"With the Correctional Services system already under the spotlight following the Thabo Bester escape, we cannot let such a gross insubordination of the justice system pass by unnoticed."

Liebenberg pointed out that the case was already unduly delayed by the prolonged wait for the DNA results.

“We cannot tolerate further hold-ups in the justice system ... for a frivolous trip to the bank while the accused had to appear in court. The justice system is already under pressure and there is a huge backlog of cases."

The four accused - Donald Seoleseng, 22, Tshepo Visagie, 38, Kgomotso Mpulwana, 45, and Tshepaone Melato, 21, were charged with kidnapping and murdering three Brand family members - Danie, 83, his wife Breggie, 73, and their daughter Elzabé, 54.

The Brands were assaulted, abducted and killed on July 26, 2020 and their bodies dumped near Takaneng village.