The Kroonstad Regional Court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the murder of a farmer near Viljoenskroon.
Free State police spokesperson, Lorraine Earle, confirmed that William Sejane (57), also known as Maidudu, and Lucky Motaung (54), known as Sebothe, were each convicted of murder and house robbery. Both received life imprisonment for the murder and seven years for the house robbery, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The case comes from an incident that occurred between 3 and 4 October 2020, when Dave Wessels (66) was attacked at his farmhouse. “The perpetrators reportedly entered through a back window, overpowered him, and tied his hands and legs before wrapping his head in plastic, causing his death. They fled with his white Toyota bakkie and several household items,” Earl noted.
She further explained that following an intensive investigation, police recovered the stolen vehicle at a workshop in Orkney. Wessels’ bank card was also traced to transactions made in Orkney, Klerksdorp, and Potchefstroom, where surveillance footage linked Motaung to the purchases. This led to his arrest, followed by Sejane’s.
Earle also revealed that Sejane had been out on parole for only 16 months after serving a life sentence for a similar offence. After a thorough trial, both men were found guilty and sentenced accordingly.
Compiled by Clement Matroos
