Smith Marthinus "Rinus"

Age 27. On the day of the incident, two armed gunmen launched an ambush on the property. During the violent confrontation, Rinus Smith was shot at close range and killed, while his brother, Helgardt Smith, was seriously wounded by gunfire but survived. Helgardt's wife and two young nieces who were present at the homestead managed to evade the attackers and escaped from the scene completely unharmed. Following the fatal shooting, the South African Police Service launched an intensive regional manhunt coordinated by Captain Rosa Benade. This led to swift police breakthroughs and the arrest of the first suspect, Piet Sehloho of Phahameng, followed by the apprehension of a second male suspect on charges of murder and armed robbery in late December 2002.