A total of four farm attacks took place this week within a period of only 48 hours on farms in the Central and Western Transvaal.

A large group of attackers reportedly attacked several farm workers in their homes on a vegetable farm at Tarlton in the Central Transvaal at around 01:40 on Wednesday morning.

“One worker was shot in the stomach and was hospitalized. The other workers managed to call for help from the neighboring farm,” said Sean Minne, manager at the Custodia security company.

“We immediately responded to the incident, after which we found that some of the farm workers had been robbed of cash. But thanks to the quick response of the other workers, the attackers were unable to get to the farmer’s house. The suspects fled the scene and no one has been arrested yet,” Minne said.

Barely an hour later, another farm attack was reported at Vlakdrift in the Western Transvaal. A group of nine armed attackers reportedly overpowered the farm workers at around 02:45 and fired several shots at them. One worker was shot in the shoulder and leg. The attackers then also attacked the farmhouse.

“The attackers stood in front of the farmer and his wife’s bedroom window and fired shots at them.”

However, the couple managed to crawl from the bed to the bathroom and locked themselves there.

“The farmer had his firearm with him, loaded it immediately and called for help. The suspects subsequently fled the scene and no one has yet been arrested. The farm worker is still in the hospital.”

A third farm attack was reported in Koster, West Tranvaal on Wednesday morning. Two gunmen allegedly overpowered a farmer with a firearm and a panga.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the suspects were reportedly looking for money but could not find any cash in the house. A wedding ring, wristwatch and Samsung mobile phone were looted.

Two farm workers were detained outside the house by one of the suspects, but were later reportedly able to get away to call for help.

The attackers fled the scene shortly afterwards in the farmer’s Isuzu bakkie. However, the pickup truck got stuck in the mud about a mile from the house, and a car with two occupants picked up the three suspects and fled the scene.

Thanks to the help of other farmers in the community and the police, the suspects were apprehended shortly after the incident. The suspects initially got out of the car and ran in different directions. However, Lungelo Mavuso (25), Thabiso Ngwenya (27), Siboniso Magagula (30), Christopher Mothibe (48) and Punuka Van Rooyen (51) were soon arrested and appeared in the Koster Circuit Court on Friday on charges of house robbery.

“According to the preliminary investigation, Mothibe and Van Rooyen are residents of Koster while the other three accused are of Piet Retief in Mpumalanga,” Mokgwabone said.

The accused remain in custody until they appear in court again next week.

A fourth farm attack was reported at Syferbult in the western Transvaal at around 02:30 on Thursday morning.

About nine assailants fired multiple shots at a farmer and his son’s bedroom windows. The boy was reportedly shot in the face and is currently in critical condition in hospital.

“The farmer also reportedly fired shots with his pistol firing blank cartridges. The suspects suspected it was a real firearm and fled the scene.”

Minne says the farmer got into his van to seek help from the neighboring farm, but had control of the vehicle and it rolled.

“He reportedly got out of the pickup truck and ran to the neighbors. The emergency services have been called and no one has been arrested yet.”

Minnie emphasizes that the modus operandi of the farm attack at Vlakdrift and the one at Syferbult is similar in that “the attackers arrived in groups of nine and fired several shots through room windows”.

“In both of these incidents, the attackers also had a shotgun and a 9mm pistol in their possession,” Minne said.

Koster is approximately 48.6km from Syferbult on the R509, the distance between Syferbult and Vlakdrift is 40km on the R24 and R509. Koster and Vlakdrift are further apart – about 86.7km on the R509.

SOURCE:4 farm attacks within 48 hours in Central and Western Transvaal – Volkskrag News