Lydenburg farm murder – police searching for the second suspect

[Nat Quinn]

The 36-year-old suspect arrested in connection with a farm murder over the weekend is still in the hospital.

The suspect was shot when police pounced on him and his alleged cohort in Springvalley on January 16.

During an altercation, the suspect was shot and the other suspect escaped.

Police recovered a white Toyota Hilux 2.4 bakkie and a 9mm pistol with ammunition in possession of the suspect.

Community members from Springvalley pointed police to a Honda CRV allegedly also driven by the arrested suspect.

This car turned out to be a car stolen in Lydenburg in October of last year.

The suspect was wounded when he tried to overpower a member of the police.

Tweet – SA Police Service

This played off when members from the SAPS K9 Unit in Lydenburg followed up on details that led to a house in Springvalley.

They began searching for the suspects, and then suddenly two suspects driving in the alleged stolen bakkie reportedly drove past them

Police gave chase, the bakkie stopped, and the two suspects jumped out and ran on foot with the police after them.

One of the suspects hid behind a shack and tried to overpower and grab a police officer’s firearms.

Another police officer saw the struggle and after warning the suspect, fired at him wounding him in his leg.

Tweet – SA Reports 2

The farm murder wrapped the community of Lydenburg in shock.

Mr Johan Nortjie (66) was about to go to work when he was approached by two armed male suspects who allegedly shot him on January 15 on his farm Wilgekraal in the Badfontein Valley.

“They then allegedly went inside the house and found the farmer’s wife,  Susan Nortje, whom they allegedly assaulted and then tied up with rope. The suspects are said to have also taken the car keys for the said bakkie. It is further reported that the suspects robbed the victims of their mobile phones as well as some bank cards,” said Brigadier Selvy Mohlala provincial police spokesperson.

Thereafter, the suspects fled the scene.

Farmworkers realised something was wrong when they saw the bakkie speeding towards the R36.

A neighbour was alerted. He rushed to Nortje’s house where he untied the terrified woman.

Mohlala said the arrested suspect could be charged for the Lydenburg farm murder and robbery as the probe continues.

The second suspect is still at large.

A rifle with its serial numbers filed off was also recovered by members of the police at the second suspect’s house.

“The investigation continues with the hope to arrest him,” Mohlala said.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the success made and emphasised that the members all over the province are geared up to deal with crime more especially as the year has begun.

Lydenburg farm murder – police searching for the second suspect | Witbank News

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