The defence team in the Mpumalanga farm murder trial, where two men were tortured and killed, has cast doubt on the credibility of a key State witness.
Sfiso Thwala and Musa Nene were beaten to death on 9 August 2020 near Bampoen Farm in Mkhondo after their car became stuck. Eight men are currently standing trial at the Middelburg High Court for the brutal killings.
State witness
Former Bampoen Farm security guard, Mthokozisi Vilakazi, admitted that he initially lied to police under instruction from the farm owner. He claimed he was told to falsify his account of the events but later submitted a truthful second statement because the guilt became unbearable.
Defence Challenges Credibility
Defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers questioned Vilakazi’s integrity, emphasizing that his first false statement was made under oath. Cilliers pointed out that the oath Vilakazi took confirms his words were meant to be truthful and not coerced.
Under cross-examination, Vilakazi confirmed that he was neither threatened nor offered incentives by the farm owner when asked to mislead authorities.
The defence suggested that Vilakazi’s willingness to lie raises questions about his reliability as a witness, potentially weakening the State’s case as the trial continues.
In other news – Connie Ferguson honors her late mother
Actress and media mogul Connie Ferguson has taken to social media to reflect on the passing of her beloved mother, marking 12 years since her death.
Sharing a touching post with a photo of her late mom, Connie expressed how the pain of the loss remains, even as time passes. Her emotional words resonated deeply with fans and followers, who flooded the comments section with messages of love and support. Read More
