Three Farmers Jailed for Life for Brutal Murder of Farm Dweller Dumisani Phakathi
Three farmers have been sentenced to life imprisonment each after being found guilty of the premeditated murder of farm dweller, Dumisani Phakathi. The sentencing was handed down by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Pretoria.
The convicted individuals are Jaco Wessels Kemp (36), Louise Coetzee (29), and Gert Frederik van der Westhuizen (38). In addition to the life sentences, the court declared all three unfit to possess firearms and ordered them to surrender any weapons, ammunition, licences, and permits to the investigating authorities.
According to evidence presented in court, the incident occurred on 16 September 2023 at a chicken farm in Mamokgalieskraal near Brits. The three farmers were reportedly having a braai when they noticed Phakathi walking past the farm gate on his way to fetch water from a nearby furrow used by members of the community.
The accused approached Phakathi and violently assaulted him before dragging him into a storage facility on the farm, where the attack continued until he died from his injuries.
In the early hours of 17 September 2023, at approximately 02:00, Kemp and Coetzee were stopped by police during a stop-and-search operation on the R511 road. Officers discovered black refuse bags loaded in their vehicle, and during the search they noticed human legs protruding from the bags. Upon further inspection, the bloodied body of Phakathi was found with his head covered in plastic. The pair were arrested immediately.
Van der Westhuizen later handed himself over to police on 19 September 2023 after investigations linked him to the crime.
During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty and attempted to shift blame onto one another. However, the State prosecutor presented compelling evidence proving the case beyond reasonable doubt.
In mitigation of sentence, the accused requested leniency, citing the time already spent in custody and their responsibilities towards their children. The prosecution opposed this request, arguing that the murder was senseless, cruel, and inhumane, particularly as the victim’s body had been placed in rubbish bags in an apparent attempt to dispose of it at a dumping site.
Victim impact statements revealed the deep emotional trauma suffered by the deceased’s family, with his sister expressing loss of trust following the incident.
In delivering judgment, the court stated that the accused showed no remorse for their actions and concluded that the murder was carried out without justification. The ruling sends a strong message that acts of extreme violence will be met with the full force of the law.
