Two Guards Jailed for 25-Year Sentence in Hartswater Farm Murder

In a notable case that has gripped the Northern Cape, two former farm security guards have been meted out a severe penalty of 25 years' imprisonment each by the Kimberley High Court for the callous murder of a suspect they believed was stealing watermelons. This incident not only brought to the fore the critical issue of security on South African farms but also underscored the importance of lawful conduct even when property crimes are suspected.

The events unfolded on a quiet farm near Magogong, Hartswater, where on the 2nd of January 2019, Kabelo Edward De Bruin (27) and Goitsemang Piet Muller (37) made a fateful decision with dire consequences. Upon sighting two men on the premises, their suspicion led to a fatal overreaction. While one of the individuals was detained and locked away in a storeroom, the other, Pieta Modingwana (29), was met with deadly violence that ended his life.

The response from authorities was swift following community notification of the incident. Hartswater police, following up on information provided, discovered the tied-up individual and proceeded with the prompt arrest of the farm owner, Dawie Oosthuizen (62), along with the two guards. Unfortunately, Oosthuizen passed away due to natural causes while on bail, leaving the two security personnel to face the full brunt of the legal system.

During the trial, which culminated in the sentencing on the 18th of September 2024, details emerged of how Modingwana, shot twice in his abdomen, desperately sought refuge at his shack but later succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalized. This was not a mere lapse in judgement but rather an extreme act that illustrated the dangerous implications of vigilantism.

Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, lauded the dedicated effort of Detective Warrant Officer Tiisetso Chabeli and the Hartswater Detective team. Their tenacious work became a quintessential example of the judicial system's commitment to ensuring that those guilty of such crimes face robust justice and that individuals are deterred from enacting their version of justice.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility that comes with positions of security, where the boundaries of self-help and the enforcement of the law should never blur to the extent of costing innocent lives. It’s hoped by many that this judgement will act as a deterrent to similar occurrences and encourage adherence to legal justice procedures.

The sentencing, which is set to run concurrently for each man, also emits a broader message about the imperative of fair and just practices, regardless of the context, in all levels of South African society.