/ 1 January 2002

Leg cut off so body can fit in grave

A man who picked up firewood on a farm was allegedly beaten up, shot, hit on the head and then a leg was cut off his corpse so it could fit into a shallow grave, The Star reported on Tuesday.

Two farmers have been charged in the Pretoria High Court with the murder.

Jan Daniel Vermeulen (23) of Bronkhorstspruit and Albertus Taljaard (27) of Witbank — who have not yet pleaded — are charged with murder and attempted murder.

It is alleged they killed Nelson Makhabitshane on February 27 last year on Vermeulen’s farm, after they found Makhabitshane and a friend, Joseph Nkosi, collecting firewood.

Nkosi escaped, but Makhabitshane was fatally assaulted.

The case was postponed to November 4. – Sapa