Free State Farmer Murder Case Ends In Life Sentences For Two Convicted Men

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State has welcomed the conviction of two men responsible for the brutal killing of a farmer near Viljoenskroon in October 2020.

On Friday, 03 October 2025, the Kroonstad Regional Court sentenced William Sejane (57), also known as Maidudu, and Lucky Motaung (54), also known as Sebothe, to life imprisonment for murder.

Both men were also found guilty of house robbery and received an additional seven-year sentence, with all sentences running concurrently.

Free State Farmer Murder Case: Gruesome Details of the Crime Emerge

The attack occurred on the night of 03 to 04 October 2020 at the farm home of Mr. Dave Wessels (66).

The perpetrators gained entry through a back window, overpowered Wessels, tied his hands and legs, and wrapped his head in plastic, resulting in his death. A white Toyota bakkie and several household items were stolen during the crime.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Seven-Year-Old Fatally Shot By Cousin Using Father’s Gun In Eastern Cape

The case was fast-tracked under the SAPS 24-Hour Activation Plan and assigned to Sergeant Morena Machalotsa from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit. Investigators successfully recovered the stolen vehicle at a workshop in Orkney.

The victim’s bank card transactions in Orkney, Klerksdorp, and Potchefstroom, captured on surveillance footage, linked Motaung to the crime and led to his arrest.

Sejane was also arrested, and records revealed he had been released on parole for only 16 months after previously serving a life sentence for a similar offence. SAPS praised the diligent investigation that brought justice to the Wessels family.

---

For More, Follow SurgeZirc SA On  Facebook, X,  Instagram and Bluesky