TRIO JAILED FOR VIOLENT FARM ATTACK
Thabazimbi/ Koedoeskop – Three foreign nationals will spend a lengthy time behind bars after being convicted of a violent farm attack in Koedoeskop.
The Thabazimbi Regional Court handed down heavy sentences to Mathias Mabunda (33), Chrispen Machaure (35), and Edson Muchemva Zvavanoda (43) for multiple serious offences, including attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and the possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Their crimes, committed on 16 November 2021 at Roodepan Farm, saw them ambush a 46-year-old farm manager in the dead of night. The victim was shot and robbed of his cellphone, R50,000 in cash, and a Mozambican passport. The suspects then fled the scene in a white BMW waiting outside the farm’s gate.
Following an investigation led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), a joint operation was launched, involving the Northam Detectives Unit, National Intervention Unit, Tracker Company, Koedoeskop farmers, and the Bela Bela Crime Intelligence Unit. Their efforts bore fruit on 14 January 2022 when two of the accused were arrested in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. Further investigations led to the arrest of Mabunda, a former farm employee who had conspired with the others to orchestrate the attack.
Lieutenant colonel Stephen Thakeng confirmed the sentences handed down by the court:
- Housebreaking with intent to commit robbery: 5 years’ imprisonment
- Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years’ imprisonment
- Attempted murder: 6 years’ imprisonment
- Possession of an unlicensed firearm: 6 years’ imprisonment
- Contravention of Immigration Act: 2 years’ imprisonment
The sentences on four of the counts will run concurrently with the 15-year sentence for robbery, meaning the accused will spend significant time behind bars. They have also been declared unfit to own a firearm.
The case was assigned to sergeant Thabiso Aubrey Seshoka, whose dedication ensured that the accused were denied bail and ultimately convicted. His exceptional detective work was instrumental in securing justice for the victim and the wider community.
Limpopo provincial commissioner, lieutenant general Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the sentencing, stating that such decisive legal action sends a strong message to criminals: “There is no place for lawlessness in our communities. The SAPS remains committed to ensuring that those who commit heinous crimes face the full might of the law.”
Photo: Sergeant Thabiso Seshoka’s determination ensured that the three convicted criminals never walked free before sentencing.