The accused implicated in the kidnapping and murder of the Brand family from their farm near Hartswater in July 2020 have all pleaded not guilty.
THE ACCUSED implicated in the kidnapping, robbery and murder of the Brand family on their farm near Hartswater in July 2020 have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The bodies of the three Brand family members – Danie, 83, his wife Breggie, 73, and their daughter Elzabé, 54, were found in the veld near Takaneng village near Taung after they were abducted from their smallholding on July 26, 2020.
They were assaulted with blunt and sharp objects.
Items stolen during the robbery include a silver Mazda, a Nissan Micra, two laptops, two cellphones, a handbag and a USB stick.
The charges against Realeboga Manyedi, 21, were withdrawn by the State as he will be used as a Section 204 witness.
Acting Northern Cape High Court Judge Cordelia Kgopa reminded the remaining four accused – Donald Seolesang, 22, Tshepo Visagie, 38, Kgomotso Mpumlwane, 45, and Tshepaone Malato, 21, that if found guilty they could face life sentences for the murders and 15 years imprisonment for the robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping charges, as well as a prescribed sentence for defeating the ends of justice.
All the accused chose to remain silent and not provide any plea explanations.
Steven Benny, a neighbouring farmer who knew the Brand family for over 40 years, testified that he went to look for the deceased on July 27, 2020, after their daughter, Heidi Taljaard, was unable to reach them on their cellphones.
“I got there a few minutes after 5pm in the afternoon, where I found that the windows and door were shut. I didn’t see any vehicles under the carport where they were usually parked,” said Benny.
He added that on his way back to his bakkie he noticed two bricks that were covered in blood.
“I saw a hat that uncle Dan used to wear as well as a pair of spectacles. I saw drag marks and blood marks near the carport.
“I assumed that is where a scuffle took place before he was loaded into the vehicle.
“I went to the back door and there was blood against the wall. I pulled on the door handle and noticed that the door was not locked.
“I noticed that the inside of the house was full of blood while I continued to look for uncle Dan, Breggie and Elzabé.
“I immediately knew that this was a farm attack and I called Johan Stoltz, the manager of the local neighbourhood watch, the head of the detective unit in Hartswater, Captain Pretorius, and the SAPS dog unit.”
Benny stated that the family doctor did not have any knowledge regarding the whereabouts of the family members.
“The farm workers also assisted me in searching the house for the deceased. I was concerned that in my state of shock I could have missed something. We took care not to contaminate the crime scene or interfere with evidence, we just went inside to look for the deceased.
“I could not reach Dan or Breggie on their cellphones.
“The SAPS dog unit and Captain Pretorius contacted Taljaard to get the registration numbers of the vehicles. We also shared the information on social media. A neighbour recalled seeing the two vehicles leaving the premises on Sunday afternoon.”
He added that the family dogs were poisoned a few weeks prior to the incident.
The commander of the Detectives unit in Hartswater at the time, Captain Mattheus Pretorius, indicated that he immediately drove to a quarry in Manyaneng where the red Nissan Micra was recovered.
“While we were on our way, I received information that a cellphone signal was detected at the silos in Magogong, but we were not able to find anything.
“At the silos, they informed me that another cellphone signal was picked up in Taung. I also received information from one of my colleagues that they found the other vehicle. We searched for the silver vehicle but could not find it.”
Pretorius said that Manyedi wanted to show the police where Elzabé was left.
“He stated that she was still alive when she was dropped off. He did it out of his own free will and we did explain his rights to him. He took us to an open piece of veld in the Taung area. We found the body of a woman that was wrapped in a blue duvet that was hidden underneath a cliff. Her body was found in a pool of water under some stones and rocks.”
He added that her hands were tied, while a rope was placed in her mouth and tied at the back of her head.
The trial continues.
