Hlompho Patrick Phale

Hlompho Patrick Phale (1990 - 2023)

Brief overview:

Hlompho (33), a shepherd/herdsman on a farm in Zamdela outside Sasolburg was shot in the abdomen by stock thieves on Thursday 27th May 2023. Police spokesperson, Sgt. Mahlomola Kareli, said that when the police arrived at the scene, they found the 33-year-old with his hands and feet tied together with rope.

Kareli said that 98 sheep were stolen. The suspects were arrested with the help of an intelligence-driven information in Randfontein in Gauteng. The team recovered only 18 of the stolen sheep.

The suspects were due to appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday 1st June. They are accused of murder and livestock theft.

"The FF Plus political party strongly condemns the murder of the herdsman. For these cruel and callous livestock thieves their loot is clearly much more important than a human life or a fellow man’s pain. How many more lives must be lost before the ANC government realises farm attacks and murders are not a so-called “white” problem, but a problem that deeply affects and jolts the entire agricultural and rural community of South Africa, and even jeopardises food security? When a farm worker dies, an entire family most likely lose their sole breadwinner and when a farmer dies, an employer on whom many other families depend for their livelihoods is lost. It exacerbates the vicious cycle of unemployment and poverty that is flourishing in South Africa."

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
  • "Livestock theft in the Free State is like a war waged by cruel gangs of livestock thieves against the agricultural community in the province. Many farmers and workers, like Brendin Horner (21), paid with their lives in this senseless battle. The police in the Free State ought to establish a special task team and compile an action plan against livestock theft with the support of local security structures."

Attack Details:

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

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
  • Three suspects aged between 33 and 41 were arrested in Randfontein, Gauteng.
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • The suspects will appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate Court on Thursday 8 June 2023. Three more suspects were arrested in Sasolburg and will appear in court today (07/06/2023).

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/Z8FJc (SAPS report)
• https://archive.is/EOxT8
• https://archive.is/gNaPz