LANI FOUCHÉ
The three men convicted of murdering Thomas Ferreira on his farm outside Bloemfontein in 2011, were all sentenced to life in prison today.
Judge Albert Kruger ruled that an additional 15 years be added to each sentence for armed robbery. Hendrik van Schalkwyk, Rodger Siyale and Gilford Mahlakametsa were sentenced in the Free State High Court today after they were found guilty yesterday.
Mahlakametsa, who shot Ferreira, was sentenced to an extra three years for the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic fire arm and 6 months for the possession of ammunition.
All the sentences will be carried out concurrently with their life-sentences.
State prosecutor Francois Pienaar says they did not apply to appeal their sentences. The three planned a robbery on Ferreira’s farm, Riversford, in 2011. They killed him during the execution of it on 27 November.
A fourth suspect, Patric Mabula, turned state witness last week. The court found his testimony against the other three credible, granting him indemnity of prosecution.
