adminSenior Reporter
A ZIMBABWEAN man who three years ago killed his employers at a farm in Cumberland outside Thabazimbi in Limpopo province, South Africa, before burning their bodies, has been sentenced to an effective 50 years in jail. Brighton Mafanedza (26) was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment after being found guilty of two counts of murder.
He appeared in the circuit court of the High Court in Bela Bela on Thursday last week.
In South Africa, 25 years in jail is equivalent to a life imprisonment term.
The court was told that on 15 December 2010, Casper Aucamp (55) and his wife, Daleen (52) had just returned home from Christmas shopping in Rustenburg where they had gone with their three daughters when Mafanedza attacked them.
He stabbed the couple with a knife before loading the two bodies into their Toyota Land Cruiser and drove for about 25 km from the farm.
When the couple did not call to confirm their arrival at home, one of their daughters became suspicious and she called a neighbour to investigate.
However, he could not gain access to the property as all the gates, doors and windows were securely locked, the court was told.
A report was made to the police and investigations led to the discovery of the couple’s burnt vehicle shell along a road outside Dwaalboom.
The charred bodies of the couple were found in the trunk of the vehicle.
They were only identified through the jewellery they were wearing.
Mafanedza was arrested two days later following investigations.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo