LIMPOPO – The Polokwane High Court has convicted and sentenced three men for killing farmer Nicolaas Johannes Janse van Rensburg, before looting valuable items from the property in Limpopo.
It handed Albert Mangena (35) of Mabotja Extension 45, Velly Segwale (35), and Lesiba Solly Segwale (45) of Mmotong Mokgokong village, to life imprisonment for murder, along with a combined additional 42 years’ imprisonment for multiple related offences.
On Thursday, July 10, the trio were found guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of unlicensed ammunition.
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently with the life sentence for murder. Therefore, the effective sentence is life imprisonment. The court further declared the men unfit to possess firearms under Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
Mangena, Velly Segwale, and Lesiba Solly Segwale had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court heard that on 07 October 2022, the trio conspired to commit a robbery at Derdekraal Farm. Upon arrival, they entered the house and held a 15-year-old boy at gunpoint, demanding money and the safe keys. They handcuffed the boy and began looting valuable items. When the farm’s owner, Janse van Rensburg, and his partner arrived, the men ordered them to sit down.
An altercation ensued, during which Janse Van Rensburg was shot and killed. The killers fled the scene but were later arrested following a police investigation and remained in custody until the finalisation of their trial.
In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Norman Makhubele called two key witnesses. Kobus Delange, representing South African commercial farmers, testified about the critical role farmers played in food security, employment, and the national economy. He also highlighted the alarming rise in violent attacks on farmers. Taleza van Rensburg, the sister of the deceased, provided emotional testimony on the devastating impact of the murder on the family and farmworkers. She noted that livestock had to be sold due to safety concerns, resulting in job losses and the eventual closure of the farm.
The prosecution argued that the crime was premeditated and executed with extreme violence. The murderers had previous convictions for robbery and showed no remorse. The court agreed with the state’s submission that there were no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence.
Advocate Ivy Thenga, Director of Public Prosecutions in the Limpopo Division, welcomed the sentence. “The NPA remains committed to delivering justice for victims of violent crimes, especially those murdered in cold blood for their belongings. I commend Advocate Makhubele and all the stakeholders involved in securing this conviction and sentence,” she said.
