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BRUTAL KILLERS | The Polokwane High Court has sentenced two vicious murderers, Gareth Alexander Potgieter (38) and Wynand Carel Steyn (38) to life imprisonment for the murder of a 43 year-old male victim, Hendrik Stephanus Venter in the Waterberg District. The court heard that on 20 August 2021, a missing person report was opened at Northam police station in relation to a male victim. During July 2022, information was confirmed that the missing person had been murdered, dismembered, burned and his remains discarded along the De Put gravel road under Northam policing area. A murder docket was opened and warrants of arrest were issued. Gareth was arrested at Bloemfontein in the Free State province and was later transferred to Northam police.l Wynand was already in custody on a copper-related theft case. From the onset, the Investigating Officer Captain Piet Du Plessis attached to Northam Detectives Unit ensured that bail was successfully opposed until sentencing. During the investigation, human ribs, vertebrae as well as the deceased's ring were recovered. A sink basin which was later confirmed to contain DNA from the deceased was also seized together with a saw, an axe and electric wood saw. The case was transferred to the Polokwane High court for trial and on Friday 06 November 2026 both accused were found guilty and sentenced on the following counts : Count 1 - Murder - Life imprisonment. Count 2 - Defeating the ends of justice - 5 years imprisonment.