Brendin Horner

Brendin 'Choppie' Horner (1999 - 2020)

Brief overview:

Brendin (21), a farm manager in Paul Roux, Free State, was attacked and murdered on his way home, after visiting his father, on the night of 1st October 2020. Security cameras in the area, show Brendin driving home just before 20h00. His body was found the following morning. He had been beaten, sustained multiple stab wounds, strangled and tied up to a pole.

"Herkie Viljoen, a safety representative of Free State Agriculture (FSA), says the police were called to the scene on Friday morning. At sunrise, Brendin’s cap and a knife were found first, and his body was found about 100 meters from the farm gate, tied to a steel post."

Brig. Police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele says Brendin had many injuries to his face and head.

His vehicle with bloodstains was found abandoned on the N5 in the Paul Roux area.

On Tuesday 6th October thousands of people were at the court in support of his family. His brother Basjan was there early that morning.

Brendin's memorial service was held at his favourite fishing spot the second week of October 2020.

Update 06/10/2020 - The case was postponed until 16th October 2020.

Update 30/03/2021 - Sekwetje Mahlamba (32) and Sekola Matlaletsa (44) appeared in the Senekal Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, where the matter was postponed to 13th May for further investigation. The State asked for a further postponement because the DNA analysis tests had not yet been completed. It was argued that issues at the forensic laboratory were to blame for the delay. This is the fifth postponement since the outcome of the accused's bail application near the end of October 2020. (Media report https://archive.is/79DHd referring to backlog)

Update 21/06/2021: Sekwetje Mahlamba (32) and Sekola Matlaletsa (44) appeared in the Senekal Magistrate's Court. Mahlamba was released on R5000 bail. This is the first time since the murder that he has been released on bail. The state's application for Matlaletsa's bail to be withdrawn was also rejected and he was released on bail. He was granted bail in October, but was re-arrested a few days later for another incident. Both Mahlamba and Matlaletsa pleaded not guilty.
As part of the two's bail conditions, they must report to the police station on Paul Roux three times a week. The case was adjourned until August 23rd, when the pre-trial hearing in the High Court will continue.

Update 15/07/2021: Five Free State police officers have been arrested in connection with a stock theft syndicate in the province. At the time of Brendin's murder, farmers alerted the Hawks that police members were involved in stock theft in the area. According to Capt. Christopher Singo, spokesperson for the Hawks, the police officers, between 28 and 40 years old, were arrested in Bloemfontein on Wednesday 14th July 2021. Two livestock dealers, between the ages of 30 and 50, were arrested at Ladybrand the same morning. Two illegal firearms were found in the suspects' possession. The seven suspects are expected to appear in Ladybrand Magistrate's Court on Thursday 15th July 2021. They will face charges of stock theft, obstruction of justice and perjury. The livestock dealers are also charged with possession of unlicensed firearms.

Update 27/01/2022: No breakthrough has yet been made in the investigation into the murder of 21-year-old Free State farm manager Brendin Horner. Private investigator Mike Bolhuis' team has already made progress with the case and is currently in "the final phase" of their investigation.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
  • Knife, rope
• Items Stolen
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
  • 2
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba (32), Sekola Piet Matlaletsa (44) one of the suspects implicated in 16 prior cases, and arrested and released each time. murder charge.
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • 06/10/2020 - case postponed until 16/10/2020
  • 22/10/2020 - case postponed until 01/12/2020
  • Matlaletsa's bail placed at R5,000
  • 12/11/2020 - Sekola Matlaletsa re-arrested, and in police custody on a stock theft charge separate to the Horner murder charge.
  • 1/12/2020 - Case postponed until 2021 for further investigation. Matlaletsa (44) also charged in another case; the rape and kidnapping of two minors in 2001. The accused are due to appear in court again on December 8th 2020 for a separate case of stock theft.
  • 21/06/2021: Sekwetje Mahlamba (32) and Sekola Matlaletsa (44) appeared in the Senekal Magistrate's Court. Mahlamba was released on R5000 bail. This is the first time since the murder that he has been released on bail. The state's application for Matlaletsa's bail to be withdrawn was also rejected and he was released on bail. He was granted bail in October, but was re-arrested a few days later for another incident. Both Mahlamba and Matlaletsa pleaded not guilty. As part of the two's bail conditions, they must report to the police station on Paul Roux three times a week.
  • Five Free State police officers have been arrested in connection with a stock theft syndicate in the province. At the time of Brendin's murder, farmers alerted the Hawks that police members were involved in stock theft in the area. According to Capt. Christopher Singo, spokesperson for the Hawks, the police officers, between 28 and 40 years old, were arrested in Bloemfontein on Wednesday 14th July 2021. Two livestock dealers, between the ages of 30 and 50, were arrested at Ladybrand the same morning. Two illegal firearms were found in the suspects' possession. The seven suspects are expected to appear in Ladybrand Magistrate's Court on Thursday 15th July 2021. They will face charges of stock theft, obstruction of justice and perjury. The livestock dealers are also charged with possession of unlicensed firearms.
  • 21 September 2022 : The two men who were arrested two years ago for the murder of 21-year-old Brendin Horner are now going to sue the state for unlawful arrest. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was unable to arrest Sekwetje Mahlamba (32) and Sekola Matlaletsa (44) could not be successfully prosecuted for the murder of Horner, and was then acquitted. Both are demanding R6-million in damages. The two suspects are convicted cattle thieves. Horner's body, who at the time of his murder was a foreman at the Bloukruin farm on Paul Roux, was found at the farm gate on 1 October 2020. His murder led to a large-scale uprising against farm killings.
  • 16/02/2023 : After two suspects were found not guilty of murder in 2021, the famous private detective Mike Bolhuis indicated that he would help investigate this case . However, he has since withdrawn from the case. The Brendin Horner Foundation has now indicated that it will launch a private investigation into the matter itself. According to SJ du Venage, spokesperson for the foundation, the investigation team will consist of experts in various fields. The police are still investigating the case, but seem to be making no progress. According to Brig. Motantsi Makhele, spokesperson for the police in Free State, the case is still being investigated. AfriForum also indicated earlier that it will step in if there is an indication that the authorities are interfering with the Horner case or that their incompetence is influencing the case. However, according to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum's spokesperson for community safety, AfriForum's hands have now been cut off as the suspects have been found innocent, other than for the theft of 2 sheep.

Additional Biographical Information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Brendin_Horner

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/DqGyn
• https://archive.is/3jWLS
• https://archive.is/nZYSd
• https://archive.is/7nKaQ
• https://archive.is/Xtrck
• https://archive.is/plU2L
• https://archive.is/6Dwe3
• https://archive.is/h3Aew
• https://dexter.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ATTACKS-OCTOBER-20...
• https://archive.is/cogyc
• https://archive.is/2r2HA
• https://archive.is/g5pSf
• https://archive.is/lrI6Z
• https://archive.is/yQqw8
• https://archive.is/UWDEw
• https://www.news24.com/news24/video/southafrica/news/watch-inside-b...
• https://archive.is/7hafh
• https://archive.is/R8HIA
• https://archive.is/f6LnG
• https://archive.is/SNrO4
• https://archive.is/8zQM6
• https://archive.is/Z4jqP
• https://web.archive.org/web/20220923145616/https://www.pretoriafm.c...