UPDATE | Man admits using sheep shears to kill Tulbagh community doctor

Aiden Abels has confessed to murdering Dr Roelof Botha. (Jaco Marais, Netwerk24)

• A 27-year-old man from Tulbagh in the Western Cape has reportedly admitted to killing community doctor Roelof Botha, 59.
• The man, two men and a 17-year-old girl appeared in the local magistrate’s court in connection with the murder.
• He reportedly admitted to using sheep shears to kill Botha.

Botha’s body had multiple stab wounds when it was found on Monday at about 18:45 in Schalkenbosch Road in Tulbagh.

Netwerk24 reported that a couple and their children found his body about 400m from his home.

Local police said Botha was attacked when he visited a zebra camp on his farm, the Cape Times reported. 

On Thursday, the local magistrate’s court heard that Aiden Abels had admitted to using a pair of sheep shears to kill Botha, according to Die Burger.

Abels’ co-accused are Justin Adonis, 30, Andrew Gouws, 30, as well as a 17-year-old girl. She cannot be identified because she is a minor and will reportedly be housed in a youth centre until she turns 18 in October.

The three men have reportedly applied for legal aid and will appear in court again on 9 June.

READ | Tulbagh community doctor hacked to death on his farm, 4 arrested

Community activist at the Witzenberg Justice Coalition, Winston Pietersen, told the Cape Times residents were in shock after learning of Botha’s murder.

“He was a very good doctor, and also helped… patients who needed help with disabled grants at the clinic; he was a very kind man,” Pietersen reportedly said.

“We, as a community, would like to see that justice is served.”

In a tribute published by Netwerk24 earlier this week, Botha’s daughter, Loré, described him as “the salt of the earth”.

“He was a legend. He was a hero who went out of his way to help his patients and the community. He went above and beyond to help people and to save lives,” she wrote. 

– Compiled by Riaan Grobler