Farm Attackers Sentenced for Murder of Elderly Engelbrecht Couple
The two men accused of the brutal murder of Fanie and Colleen Engelbrecht were today handed two life sentences and 25 years for the murder of the elderly couple, as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances and for the possession of illegal firearms. Fanie (78) and Colleen (74) were killed on Mother’s Day in 2018 […]
The two men accused of the brutal murder of Fanie and Colleen Engelbrecht were today handed two life sentences and 25 years for the murder of the elderly couple, as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances and for the possession of illegal firearms.
Fanie (78) and Colleen (74) were killed on Mother’s Day in 2018 on their farm Welgevonden on the West Rand, in Gauteng. They had just returned from church. The murders were brutal – Colleen was burned with an iron and strangled with its cord. Fanie’s throat was slit. Their son reportedly found their bodies, still dressed in their Sunday clothes.
The suspects – Julius Mapayi Goncalves (24) and Jossias Nhalungo (36), who were both from Mozambique – made off with only a computer tablet, cell phone, cash, and two firearms. According to reports Jossias had been employed by the Engelbrecht family for eight years.
Judge Makoba had already found the two men guilty on 7 February 2020, but sentencing was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AfriForum and the organisation’s Trauma Support Unit said in a statement on Friday that it welcomes the sentence imposed by Judge David Makoba at the Gauteng High Court today.
Marius Muller, national operational coordinator at AfriForum, today gave evidence on the brutality of farm attacks. He also testified that there had been 169 farm attacks and 23 farm murders so far this year. It must be noted however that it is not only farmers who are the target of murders in South Africa. According to the most recent police statistics, there are an average of 58 murders per day in South Africa.)
“We are relieved about the sentence, but the grief will be with the family for a long time to come. Notwithstanding the sentence we will continue supporting the family,” says Magda Coetzee, trauma support officer at AfriForum’s Trauma Support Unit.
A march against farm murders, that was due to take place tomorrow (18 July) to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, has been postponed. The Tshwane Metro Police Department said it had received an application for the march but had declined it because of the current COVID-19 situation in SA, and said it would be illegal to go ahead. Organisers say they will wait until Level 2 lockdown in SA.