Snl24 | Two brutally killed over sheep!

Wonder Mahlangu is believed to have been burnt by a farmer and a security. Photo by Bulelwa Ginindza

[WATCH] A farm owner and a security guard have been arrested for the allege kidnapping and assault of two Somaphepha villagers outside Middelburg. The two victims were allegedly assaulted and burnt beyond recognition after being accused of stealing sheep @dailysunsa pic.twitter.com/9c9rFNATpB

— Bulelwa Maphanga (@BulieeM) August 29, 2024THE families of the two men who were assaulted and burnt to death are struggling to come to terms with their gruesome murder.

The murder of Thembeni Mnguni (39) and Wonder Mahlangu (22) from Laersdrift, outside Middleburg in Mpumalanga occurred on Saturday, 24 August after they were allegedly kidnapped and assaulted by the owner of Elsias Farm and a security guard.

According to the family, Thembeni was on his way to pick up his car, which had run out of petrol on the road leading to Elsias Farm when Renault Stein (25) and Dumisani Masilela (32) accosted him and accused him of stealing a sheep.

The accused allegedly interrogated Thembeni and forced him to show them where the sheep was. They then drove to another house where they picked up Wonder.

The police are investigating a case of kidnapping and assault after two men were burnt beyond recognition. Photo by Bulelwa Ginindza

The families said the two men were then taken to a village where they were told to show where they had kept the sheep. It’s reported that the victims didn’t cooperate, and the accused drove them back to Elsias Farm, where they allegedly assaulted them with sticks.

They were then allegedly burnt to death, and their remains were placed in a sack meant for fertiliser and put into Thembeni’s car, which was also found burnt on the R575 road next to the N4 highway.

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One of the dead man’s father, Piet Mnguni (57), told Daily Sun that they want to know why their son had to die like that. He said the burning of his body was uncalled for.

“They had to burn his body twice. Was the assault not enough for them? I want to know why they killed my son like this. We’re very disheartened by their act,” he said.

Piet said his son was killed for nothing as there were no sheep found in his possession. He said if the owner believed that his son was a thief, he could have called the police and not taken the law into his own hands.

“If they suspected him to be a thief, they should have called the police and not killed him. Their act was very brutal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wonder’s mother, Linah Mahlangu, said she tried several times to contact Wonder but to no avail. She said they learnt through the victim’s in-laws that he was taken by the suspects, accusing him of stealing a sheep.

Piet Mnguni with a photo of his late brother, Thembeni Mnguni. Photo by Bulelwa Ginindza

“The family is devastated by the actions of the suspects. I didn’t know that when you want to punish a person, you become so brutal. The suspects have caused us the worst pain. We will never forget what they did, and we will never find a place to forgive them for this,” she said.

It’s alleged that the accused had confessed to the murder. According to sources known to Daily Sun, a R50 000 down payment was made by Stein to Masilela. Police are still looking for five more suspects.

Mpumalanga police spokesman Colonel Donald Mdhluli said investigations are already underway, adding that possible charges will be added as the investigation continues.

Thembeni Ngubeni was allegedly burnt to death after being accused of stealing a sheep. Photo by Bulelwa Ginindza

The suspects appeared in the Middelburg Magistrates Court on Thursday, 29 August, facing charges of kidnapping and assault.

They’ll make their second appearance on Thursday, 5 September.

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