Man in Vanderbijlpark court after body of young farmer found in Barrage area

VANDERBIJLPARK - The 42-year-old Frederick Pieter Jacobus Botha was expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court today for his bail application. This comes after he appeared in the local court last week Wednesday in connection with the murder of a young farmer from Lindley in the Free State. Maroela Media reports that Botha is on trial on charges of murdering the 29-year-old Christian van Tonder, after his body was found on 29 November 2021 in the Barrage area in the Vaal Triangle. According to the report, Botha is also charged with cattle theft amounting to R293,000. Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, says the victim sold 31 cattle to Botha and after the cattle were handed over, Botha apparently said they should drive in Van Tonder's bakkie to a remote location near the Theoville smallholdings to finalize the payment. Botha then apparently shot and killed Van Tonder in his bakkie. His body was found later that day and the police were called. Botha was arrested on Tuesday for the murder.

PHOTOS: (Maroela Media)