Mpumalanga farmers accused of murder to apply for bail

The farm owner accused of kidnapping, assault and murder of two suspected livestock thieves in Middelburg is expected to formally apply for bail at the Middelburg Magistrates’ Court in Mpumalanga.

Renault Stein, Dumisani Masilela, Stephen Wilson and Dumisani Luthuli are suspected of kidnapping, assaulting and later burning the two victims for allegedly stealing livestock on the farm.

Police found remains believed to be of the two men on the R575 road in Middelburg.

Their remains were burnt beyond recognition and are suspected to be those of the victims, but only forensic tests can confirm or discount this.

The bail application was postponed twice to allow the court to secure a Chichewa (the official language in Malawi) interpreter as one of the suspects is a Malawian national.

The report below outlines the court proceedings of the last appearance when the case was postponed: