Man gets 20 years for brutal attack on award-winning farmer
Court sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for violently targeting and seriously injuring a respected Free State farmer in a farm attack.
The court ruled that the attacker had planned the assault and carried it out with extreme cruelty.
The Regional Court sitting in Winnie Mandela (formerly Brandfort) sentenced Moeketsi Mphatlatsa, 35, following his conviction for his role in a 2020 farm attack on Ms Mimie Jacobs, a former Farmer of the Year and a prominent figure in her rural community.
On the evening of 22 February 2020, Mphatlatsa and two accomplices broke into Jacobs' farmhouse.
They kicked down her door, tied her hands and feet with wire, and stabbed her multiple times.
During the ordeal, the attackers told her they knew she lived alone, showing they had deliberately planned the attack.
Despite sustaining serious neurological injuries, Jacobs managed to free herself after the attackers fled.
She then walked more than seven kilometres to a neighbouring farmhouse to seek help.
Her determination to survive, prosecutors said, played a key role in bringing the attackers to justice.
In his sentencing argument, Regional Court Prosecutor Puseletso Ali described the crime as 'merciless and orchestrated.'
'The attack was a deliberate and targeted act against a woman living alone on her farm, a place that should have been a sanctuary,' Ali said.
'Instead, she was terrorised, overpowered, and brutalised in her own home.' He stressed, 'Such crimes demand the strongest possible response from the courts.'
The court convicted Mphatlatsa on three charges: housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery, kidnapping, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
He was sentenced to 15 years for housebreaking and robbery, 5 years for kidnapping, and 10 years for assault.
The court ordered the assault sentence to run concurrently with the robbery sentence, making his total effective prison term 20 years.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the court's ruling.
Regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the sentence sends a strong message to those who target vulnerable people, especially in rural areas.
Senokoatsane stated that 'violent, organised attacks like this threaten the safety and unity of rural communities. '
He added that the sentence shows the justice system will act firmly to protect the most vulnerable.
'The NPA remains committed to securing convictions and ensuring appropriate sentences are imposed,' he said.
Meanwhile, investigations continue to identify and locate Mphatlatsa's two accomplices, who remain at large.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
AFU obtains confiscation order against ex-rangers who killed two rhinos
The Skukuza regional court has granted a confiscation order in favour of the National Prosecuting Authority's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in Mpumalanga against two convicted former field rangers who killed two rhinos in December 2018. 'The order, made on Thursday, compels Lucky Mkanzi and Nzima Joel Sihlangu to pay R836,600, plus 11% interest accruing from the date of the poaching of two rhinos,' NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said. The court further directed that R41,820 being held in the SAPS Absa suspense bank account be paid to SANParks to support anti-rhino poaching efforts. Mkanzi and Sihlangu were each sentenced to 20 years' direct imprisonment last year for offences committed between December 25 and 30 2018 in the Skukuza section of the Kruger National Park. At the time of the offences, both were on day shift and had no authorisation to work during the night. During their trial, the prosecution presented evidence showing that the vehicle used in the poaching incident was stationary at the location where the rhinos were killed. Their supervisor testified that neither of the accused had permission to be on night duty. A tracking expert confirmed the movements of the vehicle, placing them at the crime scene, and a police officer testified about a raid on Sihlangu's residence where cash from the sale of rhino horns was found. Both accused were convicted of conspiracy to commit an offence and the illegal killing of two rhinos. 'The AFU plays a vital role in ensuring that criminals do not benefit from their unlawful actions. Through the AFU, the NPA continues to reinforce accountability, uphold the rule of law, and demonstrate that crime has serious financial and legal consequences,' Nyuswa said. TimesLIVE
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
Bribe-taking NC police officer sentenced to six years
Ex-constable Johannes Shuping was sentenced to six years for soliciting bribes to tamper with a police docket. The Kuruman Regional Court in Northern Cape has sentenced a former police officer to six years' imprisonment for soliciting R10 000 to make a court docket disappear. Ex-constable Johannes Shuping was sentenced after the court convicted him on two counts of corruption from an incident that dates back to 2018. Shuping, then a detective at Kathu police station, re-arrested the complainant, Buti Moepadira, despite his case already being before the court. Former Saps officer jailed for corruption After Shuping arrested Moepadira, the accused offered to 'make the docket disappear' in exchange for R11 000. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the complainant was detained at the Kathu police station due to lack of accommodation in Kuruman. ALSO READ: Police sergeant abuses power, gets 20 years for raping victim inside police station While in detention, Shuping allowed Moepadira to use his cellphone to arrange the payment. 'A R6 000 cash payment was delivered to the accused by the complainant's brother. Shuping continued to demand the outstanding R5 000, prompting Moepadira to report the matter to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks),' Senokoatsane said. In response, the investigating officer launched a sting operation using marked banknotes, as permitted by Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act. Caught in Hawks sting after demanding R11k bribe During the operation, Moepadira's brother handed over the remaining R4 000 to the accused. Although the former officer fled the scene, police arrested him a week later at his workplace. 'At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of marked R200 notes, which matched the serial numbers recorded during the operation,' Senokoatsane said. ALSO READ: Bodies of three missing constables identified by families In aggravation of the sentence, Prosecutor Kagontle Redemption Barnett argued that Shuping had grossly abused his position of authority and violated the public trust. As a law enforcement official, he had a duty to uphold the law, but he chose to violate both the Constitution and his oath. A severe punishment will deter similar misconduct and help restore public confidence in the criminal justice system, Barnett emphasised. Six year direct imprisonment The Kuruman Regional Court agreed and sentenced Shuping to six years' direct imprisonment on each count. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective six-year prison term. The NPA welcomed the conviction and sentence. ALSO READ: Drunken argument over being called 'inkwenkwe' ends in cop getting 15 years for murder 'This outcome reaffirms that no one is above the law and underscores the importance of protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system by holding those who abuse their power accountable,' Senokoatsane said.
TimesLIVE
12 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Former constable sentenced to six years for corruption
The Kuruman regional court in the Northern Cape on Friday sentenced former police constable Johannes Shuping to six years' imprisonment after convicting him of corruption. The conviction on two counts of corruption involved R10,000 that Shuping solicited from a member of the public. 'The charges relate to a 2018 incident in which Shuping, then a detective at Kathu police station, rearrested the complainant, Buti Moepadira, despite the case already being before the court,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said. After his arrest, Shuping offered to 'make the docket disappear' in exchange for a payment of R11,000. 'Moepadira, who was detained at Kathu police station due to a lack of accommodation in Kuruman, was allowed by Shuping to use his cellphone to arrange the payment. A R6,000 cash payment was delivered to the accused by the complainant's brother.' Shuping continued to demand the outstanding R5,000, prompting Moepadira to report the matter to the Hawks. 'A sting operation was then conducted using marked banknotes provided by the investigating officer. During the operation, the complainant's brother handed over the remaining R4,000 to the accused. Shuping fled the scene but was arrested a week later at his workplace.' At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of marked R200 notes, which matched the serial numbers recorded during the operation. Prosecutor Kagontle Redemption Barnett took over the case after the original prosecutor was appointed to the bench. In aggravation of sentence, she argued that Shuping had grossly abused his position of authority and violated public trust. As a law enforcement officer, he was duty-bound to uphold the law, but instead chose to betray his oath and the constitution. Barnett emphasised that a strong sentence would deter similar conduct and reinforce public confidence in the criminal justice system. The court concurred and sentenced Shuping to six years' imprisonment on each count, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. 'The NPA welcomes the conviction and sentence. This outcome reaffirms that no one is above the law and underscores the importance of protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system by holding those who abuse their power accountable,' Senokoatsane said.
