Third farm attack in three weeks, Soutpansberg

Zoutpansberger

Third farm attack in three weeks, Soutpansberg
Third farm attack in three weeks, Soutpansberg

Attacks on farms in the Soutpansberg now appear to be a weekly event, the 35 year old Ferdi Jacobs became the latest victim on Wednesday morning 5 June 2019. This was the third attack on a farm in three weeks in the region.

Jacobs acts as a farm manager for a company on a farm along the Witvlag road was attacked shortly before 11:00 by two men in his farmhouse.

“I was on my way to do some work but decided to get something to eat at home. I walked through the house and had barely sat in the kitchen for five seconds when I heard there were footsteps in the house” Jacobs said shortly after the attack.

After a while Jacobs decided to investigate, it was just where one of his attackers was waiting for him behind the door. The suspect grabbed him and pulled him closer. “He immediately started hitting,” Jacobs said, adding that he was still not sure which weapons they had with them. What is certain is that one attacker definitely had a knife with him. Jacobs sustained several cuts and some deep stab wounds on his arms and legs.

“I got fighting and hurt the one. The other one caught me off guard.” He hit Jacobs from behind with something over the head. “The next moment it was like a shocking feeling. I didn’t even see the other guy coming from behind.”

Fortunately for Jacobs, his attackers decided at that stage to flee. Although some of his laborers were near the house, none of them saw the attackers.

“I found myself on the floor and was very dizzy. I don’t even know how I got into the room where my cellphone was. There I could start calling for help.” It was one of the farm workers that was close to the house that heard his cries for help and came to his assistance.

The attack on Jacobs follows a little more than a week after the brutal attack on 80 year old woman, Joekie Nortjé and her son, 62 year old Johan Nortjé. The two were attacked by five men on their farm Nooitgedacht just outside the town on Monday 27 May 2019. They were severely assaulted and robbed. Johan suffered severe head injuries and will receive a brain scan on 12 June 2019, to determine if there is permanent damage. His mother sustained cuts and wounds, including with a panga. The damage to her hands has been repaired and she is recovering.

“They are both doing very well, i regularly talk to Johan and my mother regularly gets physiotherapy for her hands.” Aunt Joekie’s other son, Dippie, said.

One suspect was arrested shortly after the attack on the Nortjé family in Tshikota. The 30 year old Zimbabwean, Keith Kurimakwaramba, appeared in court on 30 May 2019, on two charges of attempted murder. Provincial police spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said on Tuesday that the other four suspects are still at large.

Meanwhile, 51 year old Annette Kennealy, well-known local artist and activist against farm attacks, was buried on the family farm last week. She was allegedly strangled on her farm Welgevonden by her farm worker on Monday 20 May 2019, and she was bludgeoned to death with a hammer. The farm worker, 40 year old Kenny Ramatshimbila, was arrested hours after her body was discovered. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance on July 1.

Read about more farm attacks here

Read the original article in Afrikaans by Andries van Zyl on Zoutpansberger

South Africa Today – South Africa News

Farm attack, victim’s arms and legs slashed, beaten over the head, Louis Trichardt

Farm attack, woman (80) and son (62) seriously injured, Soutpansberg

Farm murder: Anti farm attack activist, Annette Kennealy, murdered, Louis Trichardt

SOURCEZoutpansberger