Horrific details of the brutal murders of the Brand family emerged in the Northern Cape High Court this week.
HORRIFIC details of the brutal murders of Danie, 83, Breggie, 73, and Elsabe Brand, 54, emerged in the Northern Cape High Court this week.
The family members were assaulted on their smallholding near Hartswater on July 26, 2020 before they were abducted and murdered.
Two of the bodies were abandoned in the veld near Takaneng village while the third body was concealed in a cave near a natural spring.
The accused – Donald Seolesang, 22, Tshepo Visagie, 38, Kgomotso Mpumlwane, 45, and Tshepaone Melato, 21 – are facing charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
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Forensic pathologist Dr Lemaine Fouche indicated that the body that was retrieved from the cave had decomposed at a faster rate than the bodies that were found in the veld.
“Her body was covered with a duvet while the conditions in the cave were humid.
“Given the circumstances it is most likely that the bodies were retrieved within about four days following their deaths.”
She attributed the cause of death of the woman, who was 1.74 metres tall and weighed about 80 kilograms, to strangulation.
She explained that the injuries sustained were typical of manual strangulation by means of a rope, where the airways were blocked.
“Her ankles were bound with a brown fleece belt while the right ankle was dislocated.”
She identified various scratches, bruises and abrasions as well as blunt force injuries all over her body.
“Both eyes were swollen and had a raccoon-like appearance.”
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She added that superficial abrasions pointed to the body being dragged on a rough surface.
Fouche stated that the adult male had suffered extensive injuries due to blunt force trauma to the head.
“Experience has taught me that even one blow is enough to cause death, while there were a minimum of 11 injuries.”
She indicated that his chest was covered in ants while a stone inside a sock was found on the body.
She noted numerous lacerations to the skull, ear lobes, face and cranium.
“The right eye was swollen while both eyes had a raccoon-like appearance. There were abrasions on the nose and back of the skull while there were also bruises on the neck.
“Both wrists were tied with red shoelaces. There was a gaping wound that could have been inflicted with a knife or broken piece of glass on the left arm. This is consistent with a defence wound.”
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Fouche stated that the third victim, a woman, sustained multiple injuries due to blunt and sharp trauma.
“A blue and white nylon cord and green towel were tied around the mouth while both wrists were bound with a piece of twine. The skin of both feet had a washer women’s appearance as they were submerged in water. Both eyes were swollen closed and had a raccoon-like appearance.”
She detected extensive skull and brain injuries as well as bruises and incised wounds on the head and neck.
“There were haemorrhages in the scalp and neck and abrasions and bruises all over her body, including rib cage fractures.”
Fouche stated that a sharp object was used in a horizontal position to inflict the neck wound.
Hybrecht Taljaard told the court that she last spoke to her father, mother and sister on July 26, 2020.
“I reside in Brackenfell in Cape Town and I usually phoned them several times a day. My sister, Elsabe, was staying with my parents for about eight months. We were going on a camping trip and we were all looking forward to it.
“I tried to call them later that afternoon but they did not answer.”
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She added that her sister, Trudie de Beer, was also not able to get hold of them.
“I called Stephen Benny as he stays near my parents to check why they were not answering. At around 4.30pm, Benny said that there was trouble at the house and that he was not able to find my parents.”
Taljaard stated that they were informed on July 28 and 29 that the bodies had been found.
She told defence lawyer Celeste Nameka that she was not able to remember specific details upon her arrival at the farm where she identified some of the stolen items at the police station.
“It was the worst time of my life, I had lost three of the most important people in my life. My statement was made three years back, I cannot remember everything.”
Nameka stated that she did not mean to be disrespectful.
“I am trying to make the court understand the importance of identifying certain items as it will have an impact on the lives of the accused before court.”
Colonel Lethlogonolo Kanakang from the provincial Organised Crime unit retrieved a handbag, identity documents, driving licences, bank cards and laptops belonging to the deceased in Rooiwal near Taung.
He stated that a black Sahara laptop, a Samsung phone and a laptop charger were sold to a person in Rooiwal village.
Kanakang testified that the body of an elderly man was found in Takaneng village while the body of an adult woman was fastened to a tree with the belt of a gown.
“Her face was covered with a cloth and her face and hands were tied with a nylon rope.”
The defence argued that their clients were assaulted when they were arrested and were not assisted in opening charges.
The case continues before acting Judge Cordelia Kgopa.
