Community and families lay to rest seven Kestell murder victims

Mourners converged in Kestell in the Free State for an emotional sendoff of seven victims who were shot and killed in cold blood at the Lismor farm last week, Friday.

The bodies of six women between the ages of 22 and 53 years and a teenage boy aged, 17-year-old, were discovered inside a house at Lismore farm on Friday.

According to the police investigations, it was revealed that the victims were shot several times.

The Free State police have since made two arrests in connection with the murder of victims in Kestell, and the duo appeared in the Kestell Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Two accused, Motankisi and Selepe face 12 charges, including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, rape, and the unlawful possession of a firearm.

Premier Sisi Ntombela has labelled these suspects as “animals’ that deserve to rot in jail”, said Ntombela.

“It is bad what these young boys have done. Our wish is they must not even get bail and they must just go to jail forever,” she said.

Hundreds of people converged under a white marquee to pay their last respects and to bid a final farewell.

Victims laid to rest are the wife of the farm owner Sesi Smit, her son Rhudie Binta, 17, and her five employees – Nokuva Monareng, Nomasonto Zulu, Nomasotsha Maduna, Kgodu Moloi and Lerato Moloi.