Jan (62) and Elize (61) Bonnema of Levubu area near Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, were overpowered by two men wearing balaclavas in their home on Monday night July 27, 2015, and attacked with a machete.
Jan told Maroela Media on Wednesday his brother, who lives on a neighboring farm, had dinner with them and left for home at about 20:30.
“I walked out with him to see him off. When he left, I returned to the house. I was barely in and wanted to lock the security gate behind me, when two attackers suddenly stood at the security gate,” Jan said.
Jan tried to pull the gate to lock it. An attacker, who was armed with a machete, struck Jan on his left hand and split it open. The attacker jerked the gate and got access to the house.
“Every night I take my shotgun from the safe and keep it nearby where we watch TV. When the two men came into the house, I immediately tried to get hold of my shotgun.”
The other suspect was armed with a pipe and hit Jan on his head.
“I was getting dizzy, but I just told myself I should not faint.”
Jan got involved in a struggle with one of the attackers and was struck three times in the process with the machete over his head. Elize, in the meantime, grabbed the shotgun when the suspect with the pipe assaulted her but he took the firearm from her.
“While I wrestled on the ground with the attacker with the machete, the other attacker pointed my shotgun at me. Luckily he did not know how to unlock the safety clip. Elize took our revolver, which we also keep with us in the evenings when watching TV.”
The suspect with the pipe assaulted Elize again and the revolver was taken from her.
Jan said something happened that scared off the suspects, because shortly after, they ran away with the couple’s two firearms without taking anything else.
“We were watching Super Rugby at the time on television and I assume they suddenly heard the voices of the TV and they thought there were other people in the house,” he added.
According to Jan, the attack was over in two minutes. “It all happened so quickly. I immediately locked the door and took my hunting rifle from the safe. I shot two warning shots into the air, to let they know I’m armed and that they should not come back.”
The couple called for help and the region’s farm watch, police and a security company was soon on the scene.
The couple was rushed to hospital in Louis Trichardt with multiple injuries, where their wounds were cared for and both had to get stitches. They were discharged on Tuesday.
Jan lived in the area since his birth and moved into the house around 2005, where he and his wife were attacked. This was the first time he was attacked. He praised the police, the farm watch and the community that supports them since the attack. The couple returned to their home and is supported by family in the area.
Apparently, no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.
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