Farm murder charge after phone-charging row ends in a stabbing

A 26-year-old man from Koudekraal Farm in the Goedemoed policing precinct is expected to appear in the local Magistrate’s Court soon on a charge of murder after a stabbing that left a 29-year-old neighbour dead, the South African Police Service said in a statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner in the Free State.

The man police name as Bokang is accused of killing Tsotang Raqachile (29) at Koudekraal Farm on 1 November 2026. Police say the events began at about 08:50 that morning, when Bokang went to a relative’s home at Smithsdal Farm to charge his phone. Raqachile arrived at the same house and told him to leave the farm.

According to the statement, Bokang left Smithsdal Farm and returned to his own home at Koudekraal Farm. Raqachile allegedly followed him, shouting that he was going to kill him.

On arriving at Koudekraal Farm, police say, Bokang took a knife and ran to the farm owner’s house to tell them the deceased wanted to kill him. Minutes later he heard Raqachile shouting the same threat again. Raqachile then arrived at the farm owner’s house and hit Bokang with a stick while he was sitting outside on the stoep.

Bokang stood up and stabbed him, the statement says. Raqachile went into the farm owner’s house and locked the burglar gate. A Mr Fourie told him to leave the house because he was bleeding, police say. Raqachile opened the gate, left the house and collapsed a few metres away. He had a stab wound to the throat and was declared dead on the scene by Emergency Medical Services.

The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. Police say the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Sinah Mpakane on 082 525 2885.

The account above is drawn from the South African Police Service media statement, which summarises the allegations rather than reproducing the case docket. The charge has not been tested in court. Source: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72199