Another youth has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 70-year-old Heidelberg farmer, East Rand police said on Wednesday.
Superintendent Andy Pieke said the 16-year-old boy was arrested on Tuesday in the Ramaphosa squatter camp near Boksburg. He allegedly was in possession of a television set that was stolen from Jock de Gouveia’s house.
This arrest brings the number of detainees to five. Two 15-year-old boys, as well as two young men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested on Monday.
Pieke said police are still looking for a sixth suspect who has gone into hiding.
The two teenagers who were first arrested were found in possession of a quad bike stolen from the farm. A cellphone belonging to the deceased was also found in their possession. It is suspected that their parents lived on De Gouveia’s farm.
The farmer’s badly mutilated body was found on Saturday on a neighbouring farm about 3km from his house. He had a long rope tied around his neck and police suspect that he had been dragged behind a vehicle.
A post-mortem showed that De Gouveia died after being hit on the head with a blunt object. It is suspected that his body was then dragged to where it was found.
He went missing last week after returning from a visit to his children in Alberton.
The five suspects will appear in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. — Sapa