Christopher Sthembiso Thwala, the surviving victim of the alleged attack at Pampoenkraal farm, took to the stand at the Middelburg High Court today.

Testimonies in the trial of the high-profile case of the eight men accused of murder and attempted murder continued.

Zenzele Mzikayise Yende (48), Werner Potgieter (48), Moses Dlamini (59), Masodeni Elliot Msongelwa Dlamini (61), Cornelius Lourens Greyling (26), Sikhumbuzo Zikalala Nhlabathi (25), Mzwakhe Dlamini (48), and Nkosinathi Msibi (26) are accused of allegedly murdering Sifiso Thwala and Musa Nene, attempting to murder Christopher Sthembiso Thwala, and kidnapping in August 2020.

Thwala gave a chilling testimony of his account from the fateful night.

He testified that on the morning after the brutal attack, he was taken to a hospital at Piet Retief by ambulance, where he spent the night. His family then requested that he be transferred to the Johannesburg General Hospital.

Thwala spent two weeks at the hospital and was then discharged. He added that he continued attending check-ups for kidney issues.

He had to use crutches after he was discharged because he had suffered injuries to one of his legs.

The state prosecutor, Advocate Themba Lusenga, asked him what type of injuries he had sustained, and he said the injuries to his leg were caused when rocks were used to hit him and another victim on the night of the incident.

He said one rock was put on the ground, his leg was placed on top of the rock, and another rock was repeatedly used to hit him on his leg. Sibonelo Vilakazi, a witness for the state, mentioned a similar incident in his testimony in court.

Thwala added that at a later stage, he was called to attend an identification parade at Piet Retief Police Station.

On the day of the parade, he said an officer accompanied him to a room, where a group of people were lined up, wearing masks. The officer then asked the group to lower their masks, so Thwala could point out the people he remembered assaulting them.
Thwala said he went back to Johannesburg afterwards and was later told the suspects were arrested.

He said that although he couldn’t remember the people by name, he could point them out if he saw them. The state prosecutor then asked him to point at the people if they were present in the courtroom.

Thwala was overwhelmed with emotion as he proceeded to point to some of the accused. He was further asked how he knew some of the accused. According to him, he remembers Potgieter as the first person who assaulted Musa on the night of the incident.

He said he knew Yende before the incident, as he would sometimes see him around the Driefontein area, but never spoke to him. He also remembered Yende took him out of the vehicle and punched him in the diaphragm on the evening in question.

Thwala further added that his brother, Sifiso, spoke to Yende and said his name, trying to make peace and stop the assault, but the group allegedly all laughed at them and said, “Oh, he knows you.”

He further added that he recognised Potgieter and Moses Dlamini from the attack.

He pointed out Msongelwa Dlamini in court and said he knew him from the Driefontein area as well. He added that he remembers him as the one who went to the car when they were at the Vanhuis shed, and came back with Vaseline and applied it to their bodies after they were forced to bathe.

The MMC for public safety, Zandile Joseph Ngobeni, was present, along with other EFF members.

• The trial is ongoing, and more testimonies are expected.