farm attack muldersdrift

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Farmer attacked for second time in two months – by the same gang

A landowner in Limpopo has been beaten for the second time in two months – by the same criminal gang – in yet another vicious farm attack.

farm attack muldersdrift

Photo: Pixabay

Being the victim of one farm attack is traumatic enough, but suffering two during the lockdown is beyond the pale. Betrus Kotze was battered by crooks who raided his property this week, as farmworkers were also targeted in Mokgalakwena, Limpopo. Shockingly, this gang had beaten Kotze just a couple of months before.

Farm attack: Landowner suffers second beating in two months

The alleged “lawlessness” in this region has allowed an unrepentant criminal syndicate to target a landowner twice, with little to deter them from striking again. This latest farm attack was particularly brutal:

  • Mr Kotze was ambushed at his cattle kraal, tied up and viciously attacked.
  • He suffered a number of serious injuries, but he is in a stable condition.
  • The farmworkers at the kraal were already tied up, too.
  • The attackers were on the way to the farmhouse, but farmworkers suspected that something was wrong and called Mr Kotze’s nephew for assistance.

More resources needed to fight rural crime

The DA has been campaigning for years to toughen-up rural security in crime hot-spots. This part of Limpopo has seen two other serious farm attacks take place in July, and DA Limpopo Leader Jacques Smalle has demanded that more resources are made available to the Mokgalakwena SAPS to prevent these heinous acts.

“We condemn the attack on Betrus Kotze on his farm at Tinmyne in the Mokgalakwena municipality yesterday afternoon. The attackers fled to a nearby settlement where they were picked up by a vehicle road. This is the second attack on Kotze in two months. The attackers were identified as the same in both attacks.”

“It is clear that the SAPS in the remote areas of Mokgalakwena municipality are not adequately resourced to effectively deal with farm attacks, hence the re-occurrence. There were also farm attacks at Percy Fyfe and Dwaalboom in Mokgalakwena municipality this month. We wish a speedy recovery to all the victims.”

Jacques Smalle
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