Massive hunt for farm attackers

Free State police have launched a massive manhunt for 10 men believed to have been involved in two farm attacks that took place in the early hours of Wednesday in Vierfontein and Smithfield.
In the first incident which occurred in Vierfontein, Frikkie van der Merwe, 87, his wife aged 85 years old and their 57 year old daughter who had visited them were attacked by six men just after midnight at Vreugde Farm.

Initial investigations by the police established that the suspects entered the house through a window that was not closed in one of the bedrooms.

The three were then tied up by the robbers using duck-tape before they rummaged the house looking for valuables. They gained access to the safe where they stole a shot-gun and R1 300 in cash. The robbers also took three cell phones from the family as well as a tablet and a wedding ring.

They then fled the scene with a silver Volkswagen Tiguan which they took from the family. No one was injured during the attack and the vehicle was later recovered.

The matter is now being investigated by the Hawks. The Free State spokesperson for the Hawks S’fiso Nyakane said the vehicle was found abandoned in Klerksdorp in the North West province.
“The Hawks have taken over the Vierfontein and investigations are underway,” said Nyakane in a brief telephone interview last night.

“No arrests have been made so far but we are following several leads in the matter. We are still pursuing the matter,” he added.

Free State Agriculture said in a statement that several farmers in the area responded to a distress call and blocked all roads and launched a search with the help of the police.

In the Smithfield incident, Piet Swanepoel was shot at by four people as he left his house at about 6am. He returned fire and the four suspects fled the scene. The vehicle they used to flee the scene was also found abandoned later.

Tommie Esterhuyse, chairperson of the FSA Law and Order Committee, says farmers’ alertness contributed to the fact that no serious injuries or fatalities were occurred.

“This alertness as well as the fast activation of the Rural Safety Plan (RSP) and rural safety structures is a clear sign to criminals that farmers and the police will continue to work together within the framework of the plan to arrest criminals and as far as possible prevent incidents and loss of life,” said Esterhuyse.