Lismor murder suspects abort bail bid 

By Libuseng Nyaka

KESTELL-Lismor murder suspects, Kamohelo Motankisi 22, and Lerato Selepe ,34, made a U-turn on Wednesday when they aborted their bail bid following their consultation with their legal representative.

The pair that is facing seven counts of murder, two counts of rape, had initially indicated their intention to apply for bail during their first appearance on Monday but their Legal Aid representative told the court of the decision to abandon bail. This has saved State prosecutor Ntai Letaba’s time who had told the court that state was going to oppose bail.

The pair were found in possession of a shotgun and pellet in Bohlokong, Bethlehem and are facing seven counts of murder, two counts of rape, one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, one count of house breaking with intent to steal and theft  as well as illegal possession of firearms.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Makhele Motantsi said the deceased were discovered dead on Friday July , 15 ,2026 by  Alhet Smit , owner of Lismor  farm. The deceased  were identified as his wife Sesi smit 55 , stepson  Rudi Smit 17 , and  five  female employees at the farm .

“After seven people were brutally murdered at Lismore farm near Kestell , police investigating team followed intelligence driven information which led to the arrest of two men aged 22 and 34 years respectively. The two men were arrest on a road just outside Bohlokong township in Bethlehem. Two firearms , shot gun and pellet gun believed to have been stolen from same farm house were also recovered with possibility that one of the firearms could be the murder weapon.”

The Premier of Free State Sefora Ntombela who had attended the court proceedings alongside MEC for Agriculture and rural development as well executive mayor of Thabo Mofutsanyana, lost her cool and called the accused ‘animals’.

In an interview with this publication, Ntombela said she had mixed feelings towards these boys.

“Besides being a premier, I am a mother, I have children. I have so mixed emotions. They are young and it is the end of their future. I just wonder what was going in their minds when they raped older people who they know.”

Ntombela also pleaded with women and ‘real men’ to join hands in the fight against abuse of women and children.

“We are in trouble; we need to stand together. We appeal to real men to join us and protect us.”

Meanwhile, preparations for the deceased’s mass funeral on Sunday have already started.

Ntombela also announced that different departments such as social development will be deployed to provide counselling to the affected families.