Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the jail terms handed to two of four farm attack accused who yesterday appeared in the Limpopo High Court: Polokwane Division to hear their fate.

Aaron Mabena (22) and Nicolus Tlou (33) were sentenced to 10 years’ and life imprisonment, respectively, for their involvement in a farm attack on August 3, 2020, in the Mogwadi policing precinct.

The duo were part of a group of four male suspects who stormed the Draaifontein Farm and assaulted an 80-year-old farmer unconscious before two of the suspects raped the farmer’s 65-year-old wife.

The suspects then took a hunting rifle and a pistol before fleeing the scene in the victim’s bakkie. They were cornered at a traffic circle outside Polokwane shortly after a manhunt was launched by Limpopo police.

Shootout ensues

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says police attempted to stop the motor vehicle but the suspects fired shots and police retaliated resulting in the death of one of the suspects and the arrest of another.

Detectives Captain Koena Manamela and Sergeant Charles Lamola attached to the Mogwadi SAPS were assigned to investigate the matter and managed to ensure that bail was not granted until sentencing.

Ledwaba says Mabena and Tlou pleaded guilty and that Mabena was sentenced for house robbery, attempted murder and theft of firearms while Tlou was sentenced for rape, house robbery, attempted murder and theft of firearms.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased suspect committed rape on the farm owner’s wife together with Nicolus Tlou,” Ledwaba adds.

The third accused, Christopher Mokgomutsi (34) is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17 and faces charges of house robbery, attempted murder and theft of firearms.