‘I Really Wish It Was a Joke’: Family Devastated After Horse Trainer, 73, Killed With Spade

Just two hours after sending his children a photo of a strawberry and chocolate cake he had proudly baked, well-known horse trainer Jannie Borman was beaten to death with a spadeallegedly by a man who had worked for him for years.

As the 73-year-old’s lifeless form lay at the Vaal Racecourse , where he had lived and worked, his three childrenhundreds of kilometres away and just told their father had been murderedwere almost certain it was a belated April Fool’s gag.

Their dad, they said, was “the second Leon Schuster.”

“But unfortunately, it was no joke,” Borman’s youngest, Jan-Hendrik , 34, told IOL.

“Though it still feels very much unreal, it sadly is. My dad was an affectionate giant, a true teddy bear, and to lose such a great man is just the saddest thing ever.”

The Incident

Police spokesperson Sergeant Josephine Rani said the incident happened just after 8 pm on Saturday.

Borman and the suspect, who lived together on the premises of the racing venue in Viljoensdrif, near Vereeniging in the Free State, had reportedly been drinking when a verbal argument broke out over horse racing winnings.

“The argument escalated, resulting in the suspect allegedly assaulting the victim with a spade.”

“The suspect later reported the incident to a security officer, who immediately contacted emergency services.”

Borman, a grandfather of five, was declared dead at the scene. The 53-year-old worker was arrested.

The Court Appearance

The suspect is expected to make his first appearance at the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The Bottom Line

A cake baked. A photo sent. Two hours later, a spade. An argument over winnings. A life ended.

Jannie Borman was a “teddy bear” and “the second Leon Schuster.” His family wishes it was a joke. It wasn’t.

{Source: IOL}

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