Key points in this article:
- Savage Beating on Utrecht Farm: Sthembiso Mpangase and five others were brutally whipped with sjamboks by their employer, allegedly over livestock theft accusations.
- Fatal Night in the Farmhouse: Mpangase, left battered and coughing up blood, never woke up the next morning—his injuries proving fatal overnight.
- Burned to Erase Evidence: His lifeless body was secretly transported in a bakkie, drenched in diesel, and set ablaze in an open field in a horrific attempt to destroy all traces.
- Arrests and a Hunt for Justice: One person is in custody for murder, while two more suspects remain on the run.
The search for a man missing from Eshowe concluded in a nightmarish revelation when his body was found not just murdered but gruesomely burned in Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal, painting a dark end to what began as a simple plea for his safe return.
Constable Nonjabulo Langa, the Amajuba District SAPS Spokesperson, discussed the matter and explained that on 26 January 2025, Utrecht SAPS received a missing person’s report from Eshowe SAPS concerning Sthembiso Mpangase. The last known location of Mpangase was at Frischwerwagh Farm in Utrecht, where he was employed.
“The members led by Utrecht SAPS Detectives Sergeant Madonsela and Sergeantt Mgaga acted swiftly upon receiving the information; they went to the place where Mr Mpangase was last seen. On their arrival at the Frischwerwagh Farm, they found Mr Bhekisisa Manqele, who allegedly played a role in the disappearance of Mr Mpangase. The suspect was arrested and taken to the station for further questioning,” Constable Langa explained.
What followed was an unravelling of horror. According to Constable Langa, the investigation uncovered that on 18 January 2025, Mpangase, along with five others, were subjected to a savage beating with sjamboks by their employer, whose identity is yet to be disclosed. The motive? An accusation of livestock theft.
“After the assault, it is alleged that the victim kept coughing up blood until they went to bed. However, in the morning, Mpangase did not wake up with the others. Upon closer inspection, they realised that he had died during the night. This is when Mr Manqele called their employer and informed him of the situation. The employer, with the assistance of Mr Manqele, loaded the victim’s body onto an open bakkie and transported the body to an open field where the victim’s body was doused with diesel and set on fire,” divulged Constable Langa.
The remains of Mpangase were tragically discovered on 27 January 2025, on a farm in Utrecht, leading to the opening of a murder case by the Utrecht SAPS.
Bhekisisa Manqele was arrested on charges of murder, while two other suspects remain at large. Manqele has made his first court appearance and has been remanded in custody.
As the community reels from this brutal act, and with two suspects still uncaptured, we invite you to share your thoughts and reactions to this terrible tale in the comments below.
N.B. All information in this article is provided by the South African Police Service. If you have any questions regarding the case, contact them directly.
Comments 1
But why has the farm owner and or employer not been arrested?. Mr Manqele, who is in custody of the police was acting on instruction(s) of the farm owner and or employer….