A farm manager of Komatipoort area in Mpumalanga, was attacked, tied and beaten by five armed robbers on Tuesday night June 2, 2015.
Erick Meiring (64) told Maroela Media he was in his house at about 18:15 when he heard the dogs barking outside. “My house was locked, but when I heard the dogs barking, I thought there might be a visitor. I went outside to look, when I saw five attackers. One had a gun,” said Meiring.
The five attackers overpowered him and tried to suffocate him. They assaulted him and tore his clothes. They tied him and dragged him into the house.
“Of course the first thing that comes to mind when someone’s standing with a gun to your head is that they will kill you. I wondered if they were going to torture me; burn me with an iron, or pour boiling water over me. It was terrifying.”
Meiring said the attackers repeatedly demanded firearms and money, which he doesn’t have. They then began to carry several items from his home, including a television, cell phones, a generator, decoder, microwave, utensils, bags, clothes and his bakkie’s keys.
“I was tied up, but managed to free myself,” said Meiring.
“I laid quietly for a while to make sure they were away and then I ran out of the house and hid in a dark section of the garden. When I was sure it was safe, I ran to my bakkie where I used the radio to call for help.”
A private security company was quickly on the scene to assist Meiring and also provided medical support. Meiring says he was not seriously injured and he suffered only a few bruises and abrasions as the robbers dragged him.
Brig. Selvy Mohlala, police spokesperson, said the police was at the scene shortly after the incident, and tracked the attackers, where some of the stolen goods were found in a wooded area.
“Our investigation has led us to the Orlando informal settlement where we arrested one of the suspects, a 22-year-old man.”
A firearm and some of the stolen goods were found in his possession.
“He did appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on charges of burglary on Thursday, “Mohlala said. The other four suspects are still at large.
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