A man accused of the premeditated murder of a young farmer from the Vaal Triangle two years ago was denied bail.
Frederick Pieter Jacobus Botha, 42, is accused of killing 31-year-old Christiaan van Tonder before stealing livestock worth R293 000.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Lumka Mahanjana says it is alleged that Botha bought 31 cattle from van Tonder which were handed over to him.
She says Botha allegedly asked to catch a lift with van Tonder in order to finalise the payment for the cattle.
The State says they drove to a remote area near Theoville plots, Barrage in Vanderbijlpark where Botha shot and killed van Tonder in his vehicle.
Mahanjana says the murder took place on the 29th of November 2021 and was reported to police on the same day when the local neighbourhood watch discovered the body.
Botha was arrested last month nearly two years after the murder.
The NPA says Botha's arrest sent shockwaves through the local community as both men are known in the area.
Mahanjana says Botha asked for bail of R5 000 but the State argued that he could interfere with witnesses as they all operated their business in the same area.
She says Magistrate Mila Kgobane agreed that the State had a prima facie case against the accused and subsequently denied him bail.
Kgobane said Botha offered no exceptional circumstances that warrant his release on bail and simply argued that the State had a weak case against him.
The matter was postponed to the 30th of October.
