Three men, including the boarder of Mitchells Plain resident Bradley Fredericks, have been arrested for his murder.
The trio appeared briefly in a packed courtroom at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning.
Bradley, 41, went missing from his Orpheus Crescent, Woodlands home on 9 July.
His family reported him missing last week, and on Sunday night he was found buried in a shallow grave in Bergsig Street close to his home.
It is alleged his boarder, Igshaan Hendricks, 26, hired “hitmen” Rashaad September and Nishaat Wessels to kill Bradley, because he wanted his house.
They allegedly lured Bradley, a dog lover, to his death with promises of a new puppy.
They allegedly strangled him with a rope and then dumped his body on the veldjie.
On Sunday night, passers-by saw a body and called police.
Bradley’s sister, Haley, told the Daily Voice her boyfriend went to the scene and positively identified her brother.
According to a source at the scene, the body was already starting to decompose.
“His jacket was thrown over his face and he was covered a bit in branches. He was strangled with a rope,” said the source.
A neighbour described Bradley as a friendly man who always greeted his neighbours.
“They murdered him for his home. I hope they get what they deserve,” says the neighbour, who does not want to be identified.
Police swooped on Bradley’s home over the weekend after neighbours reported suspicious activity by Hendricks, who was busy digging a massive hole in the backyard.
Cops brought in sniffer dogs, but nothing was found.
The community of Woodlands came to court to support Bradley’s family and to oppose bail.
Outside court, they waved placards which read, “They killed with the rope, let them hang with the rope”, and “No bail for murderers, no bail”.
In a shocking twist, Hendricks’ own father turned on him, saying his son should pay for his alleged actions.
On Sunday when the Daily Voice spoke to the family, they denied he had any involvement in Bradley’s death.
Tuesday, before court started, his father, Shahien Hendricks, said: “On Sunday I believed him to be innocent, but when they found Bradley’s body and I actually listened to what witnesses were saying, I just knew I had to do something.
“I took him straight to the police station and told him to speak the truth.
“I did not raise my son this way, to take the life of an innocent man. Bradley was a gentle person who did not deserve what has happened to him.
“Igshaan will speak the truth and he must pay for his part in this, even if I have to force it out of him myself,” said the emotional father, who did not attend court proceedings.
In court, September and Wessels indicated that they would be applying for Legal Aid, while Hendricks told the magistrate that he was
waiting on his father to get him a lawyer.
The prosecutor then announced the accused would be incarcerated at Pollsmoor Prison, and that their next appearance would be via Audio Visual Remand (AVR).
The matter was postponed to 30 July for bail information.