The 71-year-old Adriaan van Tonder was expected to submit a bail application at the magistrate’s court in Delmas on Wednesday. (Photo: Isabel Venter/Maroela Media)
The elderly resident of Eloff in Mpumalanga, who apparently shot a neighbor during a dispute over water, remains in custody.
The 71-year-old Adriaan van Tonder was expected to submit a bail application at the magistrate’s court in Delmas on Wednesday.
However, his application was delayed after the investigating officer did not turn up at court. It turned out that the investigating officer was on leave and a replacement was sent.
After the replacement arrived, it came to light that Van Tonder has a new address in the meantime.
Vhuhuaho Mathivha, a lawyer assigned to Van Tonder by Legal Aid South Africa, indicated that the police will now have to confirm this address. According to law, the police must confirm an address to ensure an accused does not pose a flight risk, should bail be granted.
Adrian van Tonder. (Photo: Isabel Venter/Maroela Media)
According to Mathivha, if bail is granted, Van Tonder will remain in Bloemfontein in the Free State. The state has already indicated earlier that Van Tonder’s application will be opposed.
Earlier it was reported that Calvin Motha (33), a father of two, was shot in the head in February in front of his nine-year-old son. According to the police, Motha and Van Tonder lived in two different homes on the same holding on Eloff.
The two men apparently had an exchange of words near a water tank that the farm owner had installed earlier due to continuous water shortages. Motha was shot dead, after apparently trying to enter the garage, where the tank was standing. He apparently tried to turn on the pressure pump.
Van Tonder allegedly refused him entry, produced a firearm and reportedly shot Motha dead.
Van Tonder remains in custody and resumes his application on April 9.
Adrian van Tonder. (Photo: Isabel Venter/Maroela Media)