Farm attack killers say they are sorry, but they needed money

Within two weeks of being arrested, the two men responsible for the inhumane torture and murder of Zaailaagte farmer, Danie Swanepoel, have been convicted.

Ayanda Mncube (21) and Sibusiso Mbatha (23) entered a plea of guilty at the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday and were convicted for murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Investigating officer, Lt Col Du Plessis, worked around the clock to build a rock-solid case against the two accused, to ensure that they would not be able to escape justice for their heinous crime.

“I know I can’t bring Danie back for his grieving family…” said Lt Col Du Plessis. “…But I can make sure that there is at least justice for his murder. I hope that it will give the family closure knowing that the accused are behind bars and not roaming the streets anymore.”

In court, Ayanda and Sibusiso confessed to planning the attack on Mr Swanepoel the previous day. They lay in wait, watching Mr Swanepoel’s property from early that morning and observed Mr Swanepoel’s wife leaving at 6am. It was then, that they entered the property. The family’s dogs alerted Mr Swanepoel that there was someone in the yard. When he stepped outside the house to have a look around, the two men grabbed him, demanding money and weapons.

Working as a labourers on a neighbouring farm, they had observed that Mr Swanepoel sold vegetables and assumed he may have a large sum of money at his house from the sales. Following hours of cruel and unnecessary torture with an electrical device used to paralyse cattle, they were only able to find about R600 in coins at the house.

When Mrs Swanepoel returned home later, she walked in on the attack and was forced at knifepoint to drive to an ATM to make a withdrawal.

To read more about the attack and subsequent arrest click here.

Ayanda and Sibusiso said they were sorry for what they had done, but they needed money.

The extent of the torture they put Mr Swanepoel through before he died, will be taken into account when the two are sentenced on January 22-24.

Until then, the will be incarcerated at Pietermaritzburg prison.

Read about the attackers’ first court appearance here.