Farm attack: Man (70) shot, his son stabbed, children tied up, Oranjeville

South African Police Service

Farm attack: Man (70) shot, his son stabbed, children tied up, Oranjeville
Farm attack: Man (70) shot, his son stabbed, children tied up, Oranjeville

A farm attack took place on 27 May 2023, on a small holding at Oranjeville, in the Free State province of South Africa.

At about 00:30, the police were called to the scene after the Van Biljon family were attacked.

Six armed men entered the house and as Mr. André van Biljon (70) tried to call for backup from other farmers on a radio, the perpetrators fired several shots.

Mr. Van Biljon sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and hand.

His son, Mr. Lukas van Biljon (47), was also attacked and the perpetrators stabbed him several times with a knife. They also tied the children up with cable ties.

The attackers fled with a Range Rover which was recovered on Strydom Street in Oranjeville. They then fled in a Toyota Camry when they saw the blue lights of the police.

An activation plan involving surrounding police and farmers blocked off all roads and at a roadblock at Viljoensdrift the vehicle was stopped.

The two suspects, aged 32 and 42, were arrested at the roadblock in Viljoensdrift.

The vehicle was also confiscated.

They will appear in the Heilbron Magistrates Court on 29 May 2023, on charges of house robbery and attempted murder.

Read about more farm attacks here

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SOURCESouth African Police Service