The suspects, identified as 32-year-old Sekwetje Mahlamba and 44-year-old Sekola Matlaletsa, made a brief appearance in the Senekal Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning where it was revealed, for now, they are only facing murder charges in connection with the incident. This is despite media reports alleging the duo would also be facing stock theft charges. 

The matter was promptly postponed to 16 October, with Free State police spokesperson, Thandi Mbambo, later telling OFM News the case will now be transferred to Paul Roux, which is over 35 kilometers from Senekal. The accused were nabbed on Saturday by Senekal detectives at Fateng tse Ntho in Paul Roux.

The OFM News team reported Horner was found stabbed and tied to a pole by the neck in an open space situated at De Rots on Thursday 1 October. According to reports, police had received a call from other farmers reporting the attack at the De Rots Farm. Upon their arrival, they found Horner with injuries to his head and face. A knife was seized from the scene and his Toyota Hilux was later found abandoned with blood stains near the Duikfontein Farm in Paul Roux.

Meanwhile, the streets of Senekal are flooded with hundreds of demonstrators who have gathered in front of the Senekal Magistrate's Court to plead with the government to intervene urgently on the matter.

Tonie Nel, a farmer from Kroonstad, says something needs to change following the brutal murder of Horner. He says the Free State farming community has had enough. Theunis Pretorius told OFM News if the situation doesn’t change the farm attacks will become South Africa’s 9/11 - referencing the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

OFM News