A NORTH West farmer, who along with his son, has been accused of electrocuting a farmworker and almost killing another, told the Vryburg Magistrate's Court that he can't stay in police holding cells because there are not enough blankets, pillows and mats.
He also said he needed to take his diabetes and high blood pressure medication.
Mathys Cloete, 69, and his son Danie Cloete, 34, face charges of murder, attempted murder, assault and pointing a firearm.
The two allegedly assaulted, electrocuted and killed Bakang Moleko, 24, and assaulted Shadrack Anderson, 20, on Monday after they accused them of stealing two tyres and diesel.
Cloete told the court that one of his workers called him on a Monday morning and told him some of his goods had been stolen. He said he, the farmworker and his son traced the stolen goods.
He said he found that his belongings had already been sold to another person and that person pointed out who had sold him the tyres and diesel.
"I, together with my son, then tied the two's legs with chains and drove back to our farm. We placed them in the storeroom and chained them by the waists to a towbar," he said.
He said he then told them that they would tell him the truth.
"Danie choked one of them with a car boosting cable after they refused to tell the truth. Moleko fell down and immediately Danie poured water on his face to wake him up."
Anderson, still chained, told them that Moleko was epileptic and would wake up in a little while.
Cloete said after they saw that he was not waking up they drove him to the nearest clinic and he was certified dead on arrival.
Cloete's lawyer said there was no proof that the deceased was killed by the assault because he was drunk and suffered from epilepsy.
According to Brigadier Thulani Ngubane, the accused offered an eyewitness R1500 to keep quiet.
Vryburg Cosatu secretary Andy Leburu said. "These people took the law into their own hands. They decided to beat the people brutally without calling the police. They have undermined the pillars of our democracy."
Anderson is recovering in hospital.
Magistrate Christel Matthews denied bail and the case was postponed to today.
Farmer and son denied bail
A NORTH West farmer, who along with his son, has been accused of electrocuting a farmworker and almost killing another, told the Vryburg Magistrate's Court that he can't stay in police holding cells because there are not enough blankets, pillows and mats.
He also said he needed to take his diabetes and high blood pressure medication.
Mathys Cloete, 69, and his son Danie Cloete, 34, face charges of murder, attempted murder, assault and pointing a firearm.
The two allegedly assaulted, electrocuted and killed Bakang Moleko, 24, and assaulted Shadrack Anderson, 20, on Monday after they accused them of stealing two tyres and diesel.
Cloete told the court that one of his workers called him on a Monday morning and told him some of his goods had been stolen. He said he, the farmworker and his son traced the stolen goods.
He said he found that his belongings had already been sold to another person and that person pointed out who had sold him the tyres and diesel.
"I, together with my son, then tied the two's legs with chains and drove back to our farm. We placed them in the storeroom and chained them by the waists to a towbar," he said.
He said he then told them that they would tell him the truth.
"Danie choked one of them with a car boosting cable after they refused to tell the truth. Moleko fell down and immediately Danie poured water on his face to wake him up."
Anderson, still chained, told them that Moleko was epileptic and would wake up in a little while.
Cloete said after they saw that he was not waking up they drove him to the nearest clinic and he was certified dead on arrival.
Cloete's lawyer said there was no proof that the deceased was killed by the assault because he was drunk and suffered from epilepsy.
According to Brigadier Thulani Ngubane, the accused offered an eyewitness R1500 to keep quiet.
Vryburg Cosatu secretary Andy Leburu said. "These people took the law into their own hands. They decided to beat the people brutally without calling the police. They have undermined the pillars of our democracy."
Anderson is recovering in hospital.
Magistrate Christel Matthews denied bail and the case was postponed to today.
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