Three charged with murder of farmer, 74

THREE men have been arrested and charged for the murder of Sagadava Manna Naidoo.

Naidoo, 74, the former mayor of Verulam, was kidnapped on his farm in the same area on May 24.

When his daughter, Velash Lombard, could not reach him on his phone, she became worried and drove to his farm to check on him.

His safe in the office was opened and cleaned out, and Naidoo was nowhere to be seen.

Lombard found his house key on the ground at the back of the property. His white Toyota Hilux bakkie was missing.

She called her brother, Yushen Naidoo, and the rest of the family.

Naidoo contacted the police and Reaction Unit South Africa, a private security company, to help with the search.

The family also posted a missing person's message on social media.

On May 26, the police told the family that Naidoo’s body had been found in a canefield near his farm.

He was shot in the back of the head. His hands and legs were bound and his arms, legs and jaw were broken.

The investigation by Provincial Organised Crime was led by warrant officers Bob Pillay, Sunil Sukdeo and Praveed Maharaj as well as sergeants Denver Parbhu and Sbo Mthethwa.

The first two suspects, Sibongeseni Langa, 27, and Clement Nkwanyana, 26, both labourers, were arrested on Thursday at their homes in Hazelmere, Verulam.

The third suspect, Ingnitius Chihoho, 45, a builder, also from Hazelmere, was arrested in Verulam on Friday. They were charged with kidnapping, murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Langa worked for Naidoo, while Nkwanyana was employed by Chihoho.

Langa and Nkwanyana appeared in

the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Chihoho appeared in the same court on Monday.

Both matters were adjourned. The suspects are being detained at the KwaMashu Police Station.

Nisha Naidoo, his daughter, said the family was informed of the arrests days before they observed his fifth-month prayer.

“These last few months have been emotional for us. My siblings and I continue to the work on his farm. When I was told about the arrests, I got flashbacks of all that had happened.

“We are glad about the arrests. Now we will be able to see the men accused of killing our dad.

“We don’t believe this incident was just a house robbery because of the brutal way dad was killed.

“We hope we can get some answers as to what the motive behind this crime was.”