“I was constantly aware of the Lord’s presence,” farmer woman testifies after farm attack-By Deonette De Kock

[Nat Quinn]

“I still get flashbacks of that morning’s events now. The kicks and the screams…”

This is how Lana Coetzee (67) tells about the gruesome events four years ago on the cattle farm Libertas, level up against the small town of Reivilo in the Kalahari, where she and her husband Schalk (67) live.

‘Like a movie set in front of you’

It was eight o’clock on the Saturday morning, June 6, 2020, it was during Covid-19’s lockdown, when three gunmen overpowered Schalk in the field about 300 yards from home. They took his cell phone, pulled his sweater over his head, and dragged him under a bush. There they tied his hands and feet with barbed wire. After this, they reversed the cattle trough on him and placed corrugated iron, stones, and branches on it.

 

The three masked villains then went to the farmhouse where the unsuspecting Lana was busy in front of the computer doing administrative work.

Lana recalled: “They moved very softly. I was only aware of their presence when they started yelling at me from behind that they wanted money. I reacted like a robot and did exactly what they asked. Out of fear, I made no eye contact.

“It was a scenario Schalk and I had been talking about for a long time. We told each other that one’s life is worth more than all one’s possessions.

“I realised there was no money because the workers had just been paid. I showed them the open, empty safe. And I suggested that I give them my bank card and secret code so that they could withdraw money.

“They weren’t satisfied. They probably hit me with something over my head then, because I didn’t get to it until some time later. I was lying on the floor. I lost consciousness a few times, and then re-joined. Again and again in a different place.

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“At one point I found myself in front of the safe again, my hands tied. And I heard them moving around the house. It was like a movie set in front of you; you’re not part of it. I couldn’t call anyone because they had my phone.

“When they realized they weren’t going to make it, they picked Schalk up in the field and dragged him home.”

They took what they wanted

Schalk also handed them his bank card, secret code and all. But that wasn’t good enough and they started torturing him. Six of his ribs were knocked off with his own shotgun. Boiling water was poured over his neck, ears and back. They then tied him to the towel railing in the bathroom with barbed wire.

They took what they wanted. And later smashed the vehicles’ tires.

Lana relates: “I see the Lord’s hand in this, in that they couldn’t find the key of the room door to lock me as well. At that, our hunting rifle stood behind the door.

“They may have thought I was dead because when I regained consciousness, there was a duvet about me. My hands and feet were tied together.”

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After unwinding her, she called softly to Schalk. She didn’t know if the criminals were still in the house.

Lana finally went out a sliding door, while she also didn’t know if Schalk was still alive. She started running, 2.5 miles away to the nearest neighbors. Those went looking for Schalk. They were able to get the bathroom door open.

The Hartswater police and a doctor came immediately. The doctor drove the 240 km with Lana and Schalk to Kimberley, where they were admitted to Gariep Hospital.

Lana regularly practices pottery for recreation. Photo supplied

‘His presence was a reality’

“I’ve always been a believer,” Lana says. “When I think back on everything, I realize that I never feared for my life. It was as if there was Someone watching over me all the time.

“I talked to the Lord the whole time and was always aware of his presence. I asked Him to spare me and Schalk’s life. And that he must forgive the attackers, for I have already forgiven them that very day.

“I was never angry with the Lord. His presence during and after the incident was a reality. All of those things just brought me even closer to him.”

Their injuries were érg. Schalk had to spend two weeks in hospital with the six broken ribs and the burns to his ears, neck and back.

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Because his hands were tied so tightly, he had to have surgery to repair the damaged nerves.

Lana was in the hospital for three weeks. Boiling water was also poured over her, but she came off it largely unharmed because she wore a roller collar jersey. There were minor burns on her scalp and ears. Her nose was indeed broken in three places, one eardrum burst. Her cheekbone was split open and she suffered skull fracture, concussion and bleeding on the brain. In addition, her left eye socket crumbled and that eye was completely displaced. That damage could well have been repaired.

She relates: “Our son Schalk Jr first had to have a Covid-19 test before he was allowed with us. But after a special courtesy, he was able to come to us every day.

“The Reivilo farming community has supported us wonderfully. Our house was even cleaned so we didn’t have to be reminded of the attack again.”

The evildoers had already been apprehended the day of the attack, but the case was still dragging on.

“I remain startled, although…”

After Lana and Schalk were discharged from the hospital, they stayed with their children for two months.

Lana relates: “I was very scared to go back to the farm. It took quite a while to shake off the fear. We have stepped up our security measures. And though I’m still terrified, we trust the Lord for our protection.”

She talks about her emotions after the attack: “It was just a big fight. You go through good times and bad. There is always something that reminds you of the incident again.

“But the fear, anxiety and even self-pity just don’t stop. So bad days are still coming; Fortunately, over time, it becomes less so. I remain startled, although at least things are getting better now.

“Schalk and I support each other. We would sometimes just get quiet together, just holding each other’s hands. We will sometimes pray quietly, and sometimes aloud. We are each other’s therapist and each other’s sounding board. We talk about everything. It helps a lot and is healing. You always regain new courage.

“The attack changed my outlook on life. It’s the little things in life now that matter. And I have more empathy with other people.

“I hold no grudge against my attackers. I can honestly say that I don’t hate them. That I forgave them. Paul’s words in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” carried me through hard times.

“After everything that has happened, I can say that my faith in and love for God has deepened.”

source:“I was constantly aware of the Lord’s presence,” farmer woman testifies after farm attack – LiG Magazine

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