SUSPECT IN THE ECHO CAVES DOUBLE MURDERS TO APPLY FOR BAIL NEXT WEEK
By Montsho Matlala
PRACTISEER:A young man standing accused of murdering two elderly farmers owners, a woman and a man in the tourist attraction echo caves area of Ohristad would apply for bail in the Praaktiseer Magistrate’s Court near Burgersfort in Sekhukhune on Monday 28 August.
Christopher Bongani Mgiba is facing charges including murder, arson and robbery with aggravating circumstances, according to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzangi.
This after the charred remains of the two elderly farm hotel owners, Anneke Claassen 73 and her cousin Hennie Claassen 77 were found burnt to death in separate houses on the farm Klipfontein in Ohristad on 3 June 2023.
About 12 days later, police detectives in collaboration with private investigators traced and captured Mgiba in a suspected hideout approximately 400 km away in Ivory Park, Tembisa Township in Gauteng Province in the early hours of the June 15 morning.
The 30 year old now facing music for the heinous crimes had turned out to be a former employee of the two elderly owners of Klipfontein farm he allegedly tortured and burnt two deaths in separate houses.
Witnesses told police they saw a balaclava clad man running away from the burning houses on the fateful day.
The motive for the double murder and arson would probably be revealed when the trial begins in full swing, family members of the deceased believe.
Because the brutal attack occurred at the farm which is a home to the historic echo caves, a major tourist attraction site thought to be 3800 million years old, Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) had warned of possible threat to tourism business in the area but appealed for continued tourism operations.
“Limpopo Province is not known for these horrible deeds as we are known as the province of peace. People should not be discouraged by this outrageous incident. We have full confidence in our police and believe they would apprehend perpetrators,” said LTA chief executive, Mr Moses Ngobeni.
Police have not ruled out more arrests in the echo caves farm double murders that shocked residents across race.
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