WRAP | Another suspect arrested for riotous acts during Senekal protests

October 16 2020 - 22:20

Another suspect arrested for riotous acts during Senekal protests

A 33 year-old man has been charged with attempted murder, public violence, arson and malicious damage to property during the Senekal protests over the murder of Brendin Horner.

The suspect is due to appear in court on Monday, October 19 2020. 

October 16 2020 - 19:58

We are not here to support criminals, but against those giving middle finger to SA: Malema

EFF leader Julius Malema said the EFF came to Senekal on Friday “to stand toe-to-toe with racist and white terrorists who think they can use a small town to show a middle finger to the whole country”.

Police had their hands full as different groups descended on the small Free State town while Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba, 32, and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa, 44, appeared in the magistrate's court in connection with 21-year old farm foreman Brendin Horner's murder.

Earlier in the day, Free State police announced that the N5 road running through Senekal had been temporarily closed.

October 16 2020 - 18:53

WATCH | An arrest, bottles & bail applications: Protests fill Senekal as farmer's alleged killers appear 

Various political parties and community groups came out in numbers in Senekal on October 16 2020.

The marches and protests were ahead of local farmer Brendin Horner’s alleged killers appearing in court.

The accused Sekola Piet Matlaletsa, 44, and Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba, 32, applied for bail.

October 16 2020 - 16:40

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October 16 2020 - 16:14

Give me bail or I can't collect disability grant, Senekal suspect tells court

An investigating officer, who took to the stand in the Senekal magistrate’s court in the bail application of the two men charged with killing farm manager Brendin Horner, on Friday painted a grim image of how the victim was severely tortured before he died.

Capt Gerhardus Myburgh, who testified in the two suspects' bail bid, said Horner’s body was found on October 2 on the Free State farm where he worked.

Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa are both asking for bail and have indicated they intend to plead not guilty to the murder and robbery of Horner.

Matlaletsa told the court he was not a flight risk. He said he provided for the family through his disability grant. He said the family also lived off the social grant for three of his four children. The oldest child was 19 and the youngest was nine.

October 16 2020 - 15:23

From court appearance to Bheki Cele's promise for justice: 5 must-read stories on Senekal

Here are five must-read stories on Senekal:

October 16 2020 - 14:48

Man with illegal firearm arrested as crowds gather in Senekal for bail hearing of murder suspects

One person has been arrested after being found in possession of an illegal firearm at a roadblock just outside Senekal in the Free State on Friday morning, police minister Bheki Cele confirmed. 

He said police started setting up roadblocks leading to the farming town on Thursday in anticipation of crowds attending the bail hearing  of Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa. The men are charged with the murder of 21-year old farm foreman Brendin Horner.

Cele said several people carrying firearms were asked to turn around. 

October 16 2020 - 14:12

IN PICTURES | Tense stand-off in Senekal between EFF supporters and farmers

Tensions are high in Senekal as EFF supporters and members of the farming community gathered in the Free State town on Friday, when two men alleged to have killed farm manager Brendin Horner appeared in court.

October 16 2020 - 14:01

Both Senekal suspects made incriminating remarks: prosecution in Brendin Horner murder trial

The state believes Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa - the two men alleged to have murdered farm manager Brendin Horner - may have bragged and confessed to the killing while enjoying beers a few hours after the murder.

Presenting his information at the Senekal magistrate’s court on Friday, where the bail bid of the accused was being heard, the prosecutor* told the court the state had at least two witnesses who could attest to this.

October 16 2020 - 13:03

Malema to address EFF supporters in Senekal

October 16 2020 - 12:07

Animal or human? Bloodied clothing found in home of Horner murder accused

Bloodstains on clothing found in the home of one of the men implicated in the murder of Senekal farm manager Brendin Horner were in the spotlight at the Senekal magistrate’s court on Friday.

Sekwetje Mahlamba, who is applying for bail, told the court that bloodstains found on his pants had come from an animal slaughtered in September.

He said he had been at a local event where he helped with the slaughtering of an animal.

October 16 2020 - 12:06

October 16 2020 - 11:37

Brendin Horner trial witnesses' identities must be shielded, says state

Only closing arguments by the legal teams and delivery of judgment may be broadcast in the trial of two men in connection with the murder of 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner.

TV cameras and photographers will be allowed in the courtroom during the adjournment.

This is after the prosecution asked for the case to be heard in camera, despite lawyers for Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa signalling they have no problem with the media having access to the court.

October 16 2020 - 10:59

Rocks and bottles fly in Senekal amidst a tense stand-off between EFF supporters and farmers

EFF supporters, who have now gathered in the main road of Senekal, threw rocks and empty beer bottles at bikers who attempted to pass.

Police nyalas and armed police officers remain on high alert.

Earlier, EFF supporters shouted “shoot, shoot, shoot,” during a tense stand-off between farmers, bikers and community.

EFF supporters are now singing on the main road.

EFF supporters are carrying golf clubs, sticks and knobkerries.

A police bakkie separates the two groups.

October 16 2020 - 10:48

He's innocent, says girlfriend of Brendin Horner murder suspect

The 21-year-old girlfriend of murder accused Skwetja Mahlamba has proclaimed his innocence, alleging she had a solid alibi for where he was on the night farm manager Brendin Horner was murdered.

Speaking to TimesLIVE on Thursday, ahead of the trial resuming on Friday, Maleqhoa Sithole, said she was with him on the night that he was alleged to have murdered Horner along with co-accused Sekola Piet Matlaletsa.

October 16 2020 - 10:26

“Shoot, shoot, shoot”: EFF supporters chant at farmers and community members in Senekal

October 16 2020 - 10:17

Malema to address supporters in Senekal at noon

October 16 2020 - 10:03

“If they dare provoke us, we will show them who we are. We are not scared of those Afrikaner boys,” says Shivambu

October 16 2020 - 09:56

EFF leaders and members break in song ahead of Malema's speech 

October 16 2020 - 09:30

Malema touches down in Senekal

October 16 2020 - 09:11

Farmers and members of the Senekal community gather outside Senekal magistrate's court

October 16 2020 - 09:06

'Fighters are ready to face racists head on': EFF

October 16 2020 - 08:47

ANC supporters have now also arrived in Senekal

October 16 2020 - 08:36

No ANC supporters in sight

October 16 2020 - 08:13

'Rather die to a man than let the enemy pass. Let's go': Malema ahead of EFF protest in Senekal

October 16 2020 - 08:12

Sea of red has descended on Senekal as two accused of killing farm manager appear in court

October 16 2020 - 08:11

Cops encircle Senekal as EFF and farmers gather before Horner trial

Road blocks and tight security encompassed Senekal, in the Free State, on Friday before the appearance of two men alleged to have killed farm manager Brendin Horner.

On the outskirts of the small farming town, police officers stopped and searched vehicles for weapons, ordering motorists out of cars as they did thorough checks.

Busses carrying EFF supporters clad in the party's red regalia were parked a short distance from the court.

October 16 2020 - 08:08

'Just don't push us': 8 explosive quotes from Julius Malema on Senekal protest

EFF leader Julius Malema's stance on the violent protests in Senekal, Free State, has received mixed reactions in the past week from the public and politicians, some of whom have accused him of inciting public violence.

The unrest followed the murder of 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner, allegedly by two men who appeared in the Senekal magistrate's court on Tuesday last week. Their matter was postponed to Friday while they remain in police custody.

A police van was set alight and court property was damaged as protesters demanded entry into the holding cells.

October 16 2020 - 08:00

'Violence won’t bring justice for Brendin Horner': SAHRC as EFF, AfriForum & farmers head to Senekal

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called for calm as members of the EFF, civil rights group AfriForum and local farmers are expected to descend upon the Senekal magistrate’s court in the Free State on Friday.

This is ahead of the second appearance of two men, Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa alleged to have brutally murdered 21-year-old farm manager, Brendin Horner on October 1.