FSA calls on SAPS to step up investigation into Horner murder

Free State Agriculture (FSA) notes with care that the two accused in the Brendin Horner murder on 22 June 2021 were successful in granting bail in the Magistrate’s Court in Senekal, in that DNA results indicate that they cannot be linked to the murder.

According to Dr Jane Buys, safety risk analyst at FSA, it would appear that there is still a lot of outstanding evidence that needs to be made available to the police investigators or that should be taken into account. In this regard, it is the opinion of FSA and the agricultural community of Paul Roux that the two accused could not have been involved in the murder alone. The information formed part of a document that Herkie Viljoen, chairperson of the Bethlehem Control Room and farm guard, handed over to the Minister of Police in October 2020 with the request that a task team be set up to investigate the murder and organization of stock theft. It was also requested that the possible involvement of police officers in the type of crimes in the area be investigated. It is understood that monthly feedback from the task team is being given to the Bethlehem / Paul Roux farming community. However, FSA is of the opinion that there is a lack of active action steps to bring about arrests and a breakthrough.

Francois Wilken, President of FSA, requests the police via the office of the Provincial Commissioner, General Motswenyane and the Minister of Police, Mr Bheki Cele, to conduct an in-depth investigation to determine if there is still any outstanding evidence linking the two accused and possible additional offenders to the murder.

“The victim and their families in this murder and also every other murder in the country, deserve the best investigation in such cases. Investigation by the SAPS must lead to successful prosecution and sentencing in the courts and not just visits and sympathy to family members.”