'Man killed in drug-fuelled orgy'

Johannesburg resident Barney van Heerden was strangled to death after a sexual orgy, driven by dagga and sexual enhancers.

This is according to Maxwell Nyathi, an accused who turned state witness, when he testified against his former co-accused in the Johannesburg High Court yesterday.

Van Heerden's naked body was discovered in September 2011 in his Orange Grove home with his arms and legs bound. At the time, speculation was rife that he was victim of a gang seducing gay men to gain entry to their homes, where they would rob and kill them.

Nyathi, Mthokozisi Ndlovu and Bheki Maseko were arrested in November in connection with the murder and robbery.

Police witness, Hilbrow Constable Hecter Langa told the court Nyathi had confessed and linked the other accused to the crime.

Nyathi has since signed a plea agreement, agreeing to serve 20 years, with four suspended, in exchange for testifying against Maseko and Ndlovu. His case was heard separately.

Nyathi told the court that Maseko, who was romantically linked to Van Heerden, had told the group that his lover had a lot of money. He testified that they had gone to their victim’s house, where they smoked dagga and later sniffed “a liquid substance in a small bottle” given to them by Van Heerden “for getting a quick erection”.

He said the plan was for the other men to rob Van Heerden while he was having sex with him. But according to Nyathi, Ndlovu strangled Van Heerden only after they all had sex with him.

Ndlovu and Maseko have pleaded not guilty.

The men allegedly made off with a cellphone, a laptop, a camera and some jewellery. Nyathi said his share was R800 after the items were sold.

He added that they did not find the money that Maseko had mentioned.

The trial continues today.