SMITHFIELD – Two men who orchestrated a violent house robbery and kidnapping at a farm near Smithfield in August last year were each sentenced to 20 years direct imprisonment.

This follows the incident on Sunday 3 August 2025 at approximately 13:30 when an elderly couple, Gerald and Althea Diedericks – aged 81 and 79 years – returned to their farm after attending a church service. Upon approaching the kitchen door, the wife noticed that it was slightly open. When she entered the house to investigate, she was ambushed and overpowered by two armed men.

They brutally assaulted her, stabbed her in the hand, and forced her back outside at knifepoint to confront her approaching husband. Both victims were then forced into the house and restrained with cable ties, said Brigadier Thandi Mbambo of the police’s provincial management team.

The suspects ransacked the home, stealing cellphones, cash, and jewellery. In a further act of extortion, they compelled the farmer to transfer R15 000 into a bank account belonging to a relative of one of the suspects. After breaking open a safe and stealing an additional R6 000 and more jewellery, the suspects kidnapped the husband, drove off in his Mercedes-Benz, and left him tied to a tree.

Demonstrating remarkable bravery, his injured wife managed to free herself, climb a nearby mountain to obtain cellphone reception, and alert local farmers and the police.

A swift and coordinated response led to the interception of the suspects on the road to Bethulie. Sechaba Silence Maseli (29) and Sammy Pakiso Paint (38) were cornered, arrested, and handed over to Smithfield police. All the stolen property, including the Mercedes-Benz, was recovered. Further investigations revealed that Maseli had previously been employed at the farm.

Investigation and successful prosecution

The case was assigned to Detective Constable Larochell Macpherson of the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit. Through meticulous investigation and the presentation of an airtight case in collaboration with the prosecution, both accused were left with no option but to plead guilty to all charges.

The two accused were sentenced as follows:

• Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 20 years imprisonment
• Kidnapping: 5 years imprisonment
• Contravention of the Cybercrimes Act: 4 years imprisonment
• Fraud: 4 years imprisonment
• Possession of suspected stolen property: 1 year imprisonment

The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 20 years direct imprisonment for each accused. In addition, both individuals were declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Strong message to criminals

The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, commended Macpherson and the prosecuting team for ensuring that these criminals were swiftly removed from society.

“This sentence sends a clear message that attacks on our farming communities will be met with the full might of the law,” said Lesia.