FOUR men involved in a violent farm attack on St Lucia Farm in Hluhluwe last year heard their fate yesterday at the Mtubatuba High Court.
Sifiso Gift Madikane (20), Patrick Bheki Masinga (25), Zimisele Mkhize (23) and Mfanafuthi Simo Mthembu (31) were accused of breaking into farm manager, Pierre Redinger’s, house at 11pm on 21 February last year.
The ordeal, which lasted almost two hours, saw each member of the Redinger family accosted, whether trampled on, shot at, stabbed through the hand with scissors, punched or tied up as the suspects demanded R100 000 they believed was on the premises.
In what Redinger can only describe as a ‘miracle’, the suspects eventually fled in one of the Redingers’ two vehicles with every item of value they could find, leaving the victims with their lives intact.
Madikane, Masinga, Mkhize and Mthembu were charged on four counts, namely house breaking with the intent to rob, including armed robbery and assault; grievous bodily harm and two counts of attempted murder.
At the outset of the trial, which lasted only two days, all four suspects pleaded not guilty.
In summation, Judge De Klerk praised Redinger as having been an ‘excellent witness, honest and reliable’.
Furthermore he noted that all four suspects, having shown no sign of remorse, should be removed from society for as long as possible.
Mthembu, who was responsible for stabbing Redinger’s wife, Carmen, through the hand and attempting to strangle their son, Max, was referred to by De Klerk as a ‘dangerous man from whom society needs protection’.
Sentencing
All four were convicted on the count of house breaking with the intent to rob, including armed robbery and assault, and each sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Additionally, Mthembu was sentenced to two years for the count of grievous bodily harm and a further two years for the second attempted murder charge which was lessened to grievous bodily harm.
As Mthembu carried out these violent acts alone, his total sentence is 19 years behind bars.
All four were acquitted of one attempted murder charge as it could not be confirmed they intended to murder Pierre Redinger.
Speaking after sentencing, Redinger said he felt relieved and that the family, especially the children, could have closure.
‘I can feel only pity for the men who carried out this act against my family.’
Redinger added that investigating officer Constable Nonhlanhla Sithole was invaluable during investigations.
