Two Men Sentenced to Life for Murder of Free State Farmer. Image: TimesLive.
(The Post News)- The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of two men responsible for the brutal murder of farmer Dave Wessels (66) outside Viljoenskroon in October 2020.
The Kroonstad Regional Court on Friday, 03 October 2025 sentenced William “Maidudu” Sejane (57) and Lucky “Sebothe” Motaung (54) to life imprisonment for murder and an additional seven years for house robbery, with the sentences running concurrently.
According to SAPS, the incident happend at the night of 3 to 4 October 2020, when Wessels was attacked in his farm home. It is alleged that the intruders gained entry through a back window and overpowered him. ” He was found with his hands and legs tied and his head wrapped in plastic, which caused his death. His white Toyota bakkie and other household items were stolen,” said Captain Loraine Earle in media statement.
Earle added that the case was immediately prioritised under the SAPS 24-Hour Activation Plan and assigned to Sergeant Morena Machalotsa from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit. ” Intensive investigations led to the recovery of the stolen vehicle at a workshop in Orkney, while the victim’s bank card was traced to transactions in Orkney, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom.
“Surveillance footage linked Motaung to the purchases, which in turn led to his arrest. His co-accused, Sejane, was also arrested, and it was revealed that he had been out on parole for only 16 months, having previously served a life sentence for a similar crime,” he said.
After a thorough trial and investigation, both men were convicted and sentenced.
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