Poenkie Bisset

Poenkie Bisset (1957 - 2020)

Brief overview:

Poenkie (63), wife of farmer Arthur Bisset, was murdered on Monday morning 14th December 2020 outside their farm house on the farm Korhaanfontein near Smithfield, Free State. Arthur found Poenkie when he returned home from normal duties on the farm at around 11h30. She had been stabbed between two and three times in the neck and found lying on her stomach. A police spokesperson said Poenkie still had her car and house keys in her hand, and that the house was found locked.

“The house was locked and the vehicle’s keys and the house keys were found with her where she was lying on her stomach on the ground,” said brig. Police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele said. He also said one of the suspects (43) who was arrested was found in possession of items that possibly belonged to Poenkie. Earrings, a wedding ring and cash.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
  • Poenkie leaves behind Arthur, and two daughters, Charlene and Lieschen.
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

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
  • Police arrested three suspects, one an ex-worker of Arthur's. Only a small amount of money that Poenkie had with her was taken.
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • Tshidiso Andries Matsoele (43), the man who was found guilty for Poenkie's murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment in the High Court in Bloemfontein on Thursday 3rd March 2022. He was found guilty on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
  • Phaladi Shuping, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Free State, confirmed that Matsoele was also sentenced to a further 15 years in prison for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The two sentences will be served concurrently.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/dLqT0
• https://archive.is/Td5cI
• https://archive.is/E9xa1
• https://archive.is/NDi4c
• https://archive.is/xqLBz
• https://archive.ph/6xW6z