Farm Attackers Smash Shotgun On Elderly

Last Updated: 08/07/20242.7 min read

The elderly couple was brutally assaulted.

During a brutal farm attack on Saturday near Brits, the attackers hit a 73-year-old man so hard over the head that a shotgun broke.
The elderly couple in their 70s were attacked by three armed men in their home on a game and cattle farm at Beestekraal at around 19:00 after the robbers broke open the security door.
The couple, who do not want to be identified, work as managers on the farm. “The uncle and aunt were badly vandalized and thrown around and they hit the uncle so hard over the head that the butt of a shotgun broke,” the farm owner, Martin Barnard, told Kormorant.
According to Barnard, the couple returned to their home from a patrol on the farm at around 17:00. “They still called me and said they saw the kudus. When they got home, upon unlocking the security gate, the uncle saw that the top hinge was broken, but thought it might be wear and tear. They were watching rugby when the attackers broke open the security gate. Two grabbed the uncle and aunt while one stood guard outside.”
The attackers brutally assaulted the couple and kept asking for money and weapons. “They hit the aunt over the head, assaulted the uncle with the shotgun, fists and belt and kicked him repeatedly while he was lying down. Both are tied up,” Barnard said.
The house was ransacked. “The attackers even drank whiskey while taunting the two elderly people.” The couple were forced to give their mobile phones, bank cards and PIN codes to the attackers and unlock a safe. The robbers tried to steal the couple’s bakkie, but were unable to get it started. They fled with a television set, two handguns and other valuables.
“The aunt was able to free herself and freed the uncle. However, the van’s keys were gone. The uncle managed to fire shots with the damaged shotgun in the hope that someone would hear.” When there was no response, the two injured old people walked about 2.5km to Barnard’s house on the farm to seek help. A farm worker contacted Barnard, who does not live full-time on the farm.
The Crocodile Community Protection Group (KGBG) and surrounding farmers were notified and responded immediately.
“We followed the suspects’ tracks with sniffer dogs and drones and roads in the area were closed. Members at one of the roadblocks spotted a suspicious vehicle and chased it,” said Janus Fourie of the KGBG. In the chase, the driver lost control of the vehicle and went into the field. Three suspects, who were probably the attackers, fled into the woods. Some of the items stolen during the farm attack were found in the vehicle.
“However, after a two-hour search using drones and night vision equipment, we could not find the suspects. Their identity documents were indeed found at the scene,” said Fourie.
Police were on the scene and have not yet responded to Kormorant’s enquiry.

Plaasaanvallers slaan haelgeweer stukkend op bejaarde