Kuruman farm murder accused back in court after charges reinstated

THE FOUR young men charged with the brutal assault and murder of 81-year-old farmer Hendrik Venter on his farm Kameelaar, near Kuruman, will return to the Kuruman District Court next year.

Venter also owned three other farms – Adams, Middelplaas and Selsden – and was actively involved in the running of all their operations.

The accused – Kabelo Tata, 27, Orabile Motswakgosi, 25, Tshoganetso Tata,19, and Pitso Bogodile, 21 – appeared in the Northern Cape High Court this week, where they are facing charges of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder.

They allegedly assaulted and robbed Venter of cash and cellphone airtime vouchers that he intended to use to pay his workers on September 27, 2024.

The accused were arrested near Hotazel shortly after the incident, following a SAPS manhunt, although Tshoganetso Tata and Bogodile were released in October 2024.

AfriForum requested the senior State prosecutor at the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court in June to reinstate the charges. It indicated that the case was removed from the court roll due to a “stagnant investigation”, which resulted in the accused being released from custody.

The civil rights organisation highlighted delays in the processing of forensic evidence and several other undue delays.

According to the charges, the accused wielded dangerous weapons to overpower and assault the deceased.

A neighbour saw the deceased’s Toyota Hilux bakkie parked at the farm gate on September 27, 2024, at about 9.45am. The driver’s door was open and the back flap of the bakkie was also open.

Venter’s body was found next to the bakkie, while the wages and airtime vouchers were missing. The deceased sustained a severe head injury due to blunt force trauma.

Judge Danie Oliver scheduled the matter for a pre-trial conference in the Kuruman District Court on February 23, 2026, and ruled that all four accused would remain in custody.

The State intends to oppose a bail application by the accused. The matter could not proceed in the Kuruman District Court this week due to a power failure and is expected to resume next week.

The State is represented by Advocate Terche Engelbrecht, while the accused are represented by Advocate Japie Schreuder, Advocate Hannes Rust, Advocate Kenneth Kgatwe and Advocate Khulani Biyela.