SA Farm Attack Report [03]: Examples of Farm Attacks

Report of the Committee of Enquiry into Farm Attacks, 31 July 2003

• 00: Table of Contents (PDF)
  
• 01: The Appointment of the Committee (PDF)
  
• 02: Incidence and Nature of Farm Attacks (PDF)
  
• 03: Examples of Farm Attacks (PDF)
  
• 04: Case Studies: Direct Attacks (PDF)
  
• 05: Case Studies: Land Invasions (PDF)
  
• 06: Victims of Farm Attacks (PDF)
  
• 07: Perpetrators of Farm Attacks (PDF)
  
• 08: Investigating Officers and Prosecutors (PDF)
  
• 09: Submissions to the Committee (PDF)
  
• 10: Literature Review (PDF)
  
• 11: The Farming Community (PDF)
  
• 12: Crime and Its Causes in South Africa (PDF)
  
• 13: The Criminal Justice System and Farm Protection (PDF)
  
• 14: Comparative Studies (PDF)
  
• 15: Legislation on Land and Land Reform (PDF)
  
• 16: Security on Farms and Smallholdings (PDF)
  
• 17: Trauma and its Treatment (PDF)
  
• 18: Conclusions and Recommendations (PDF)
  
• 19: Summary of the Report (PDF)
  
• 20: Oral and Written Submissions and Bibliography (PDF)

Report of the Committee of Enquiry into Farm Attacks

31 July 2003

EXAMPLES OF FARM ATTACKS IN GENERAL


INTRODUCTION

Farm Murders in South Africa (Carte Blanche 1/2) Farm Murders in South Africa (Carte Blanche 2/2)

In Chapter 5 there are in-depth case studies of some 40 farm attacks. They include some of the cases referred to the Committee by Agri SA and the Transvaal Agricultural Union for special investigation, as well as cases that the Committee itself thought merited further investigation. It will be seen that those cases are all of a very serious nature, many resulting in death, rape or serious injury. Newspaper reports on farm attacks also almost invariably concentrate on the more serious cases, because they are the cases that are sensational and newsworthy. Television programs with video clips of gruesome and tragic farm attacks further contribute to the perception that all or most farm attacks are of that nature.

All farm attacks are serious matters. They mostly involve robbery with aggravating circumstances (armed robbery), which in itself is a serious offence, and they often result in murder, rape or serious injury. The consequence can be tragic. Nevertheless, not all farm attacks fall in the same category, and there are literally hundreds of cases every year where the victims are done no or little physical harm. The case studies are therefore not a representative sample of farm attacks at all.

There are other perceptions - that rape is common during farm attacks; that all or almost all victims of farm attacks are white; conversely, that no or little attention is given to black victims of farm attacks; that most farm attacks are carried out by some sinister force; etc. And indeed, examples to substantiate all these perceptions can be found. However, those cases do not represent all farm attacks or even of the majority of farm attacks.

It might therefore be useful to look at a cross section of farm attacks to see what farm attacks really look like. The Committee had information on more than 3 500 farm attacks and it would have been impossible to summarise them all. However, to select a number of random examples would also not have been satisfactory either, and would have exposed the Committee to accusations of manipulation. The Committee therefore thought it prudent to publish synopses of all 82 cases on the NOCOC database for December 2001. The month is no different from any other month on the database: it was chosen merely because it was the last month on the database that the Committee used. According to the official figures of the CIAC there were 85 farm attacks during that month. The smaller number on the NOCOC database is the result of the factors discussed elsewhere, and is not significant.

In the synopses below fatalities and rapes are indicated in bold letters, since those are the cases that usually receive the most publicity. However, the identities of rape victims are protected. At the end of the chapter some of the statistics that can be gleaned from the cases are summarised and discussed. Those statistics are to a very large extent in agreement with the national figures, which confirms that the examples are a valid ‘sample’ of farm attacks in general.


CASES ON THE NOCOC DATABASE: DECEMBER 2001

1. Mr Van den Berg (aged 57) was at his home on the farm in Mpumalanga when he heard his dogs barking. He took his firearm and went outside. He noticed a man standing at the garage. The man fired shots at him. Mr Van den Berg returned fire and the attacker fled from the scene. No injuries were sustained.
   
   
2. The couple (38, black) and their children were asleep in their house on a smallholding in North West when two men forced open the door and threatened them with a firearm and a knife. The attackers assaulted the husband, tied him up and robbed an amount of money. They then took the wife outside and raped her, before fleeing. One victim suffered injuries. (Rape)
   
   
3. Mr Dulkant (58) was sitting in his room on a farm in Mpumalanga when three men entered and threatened him with firearms. The men blindfolded him, tied his hands with a rope and ordered him to lie down on the floor. They then took the keys of his truck and drove off with it.
   
   
4. The woman (21, black) was on her way home on a farm in North West when an unknown man overpowered her, dragged her to an abandoned building and raped her, before fleeing from the scene. (Rape)
   
   
5. Mr Tshisane (64) was at his home on a farm in Mpumalanga when a man entered the house, threatened him with a knife and demanded money. The man stabbed Tshisane with the knife and robbed him of cash, a hot plate and other items, before fleeing.
   
   
6. Mr Da Costa was about to pay his workers on a farm in Gauteng when two men, armed with firearms, approached him and forced him and his workers into the office. The attackers demanded money and Da Costa handed them a large amount of money. Two more men appeared and took his cellphone. The attacker then demanded firearms, but Mr Da Costa told them there were none. They then left in a car parked some distance away.
   
   
7. Intruders cut the fence to the farm of Mr Van Rensburg in North West in order to gain access with their vehicle. They then slaughtered three cattle and removed the carcasses of two. Another eight cattle were injured after being severely stabbed with long knives. It is suspected that the carcasses were taken to the township nearby.
   
   
8. A girl (15, black) was on her way to the tuck shop on a farm in North West when an unknown man overpowered her, dragged her into the bushes and raped her. The attacker then jumped over the border fence with Botswana and ran away. (Rape)
   
   
9. Mr Maseko (50) and his passenger, both employees on a farm in Mpumalanga, were travelling home. Just after the turn-off three men emerged from the plantation next to the road. They were armed with handguns and fired several shots at the victims, fatally wounding Maseko. When the attackers came towards the vehicle, the passenger pushed Mr Maseko to the passenger seat and sped off to the farmhouse of his employer. (Fatality)
   
   
10. Mr and Mrs Hartman (about 65) were asleep on their farm in North West when two men overpowered them and assaulted them with iron rods. The victims were then tied up. The suspects robbed an unknown amount of money, a shotgun and a pistol. They cut the telephone cables and fled in the Hartmans’ motorcar. Hartman managed to free himself and his wife and went to the neighbour for assistance. They were admitted to hospital in a serious condition.
    
    
11. Mrs Moloto, a domestic worker on a smallholding in Gauteng, was in the house when three men entered and threatened her with a knife. The men demanded that she open the safe. When she informed them that she did not have the keys to the safe, they attempted to force it open, but failed. They then left and Mrs Moloto contacted the owner and the police.
    
    
12. Mr Retief (48) was busy in his office on a smallholding in Gauteng when six men arrived in a truck. They were armed with firearms and one was wearing a police uniform. They pretended to be looking for a murder suspect in the area. However, they then demanded money and ordered Retief to lie down on the floor. They robbed a large amount of cash, a computer, cellphone and wristwatch. They left in the truck.
    
    
13. Mr Kritzinger withdrew a large amount of money from the bank and returned to his smallholding in Gauteng. When he stopped at this house three men in a vehicle stopped behind him. They threatened him with firearms and demanded money. They robbed him of the money and a cellphone. They fired three shots into the ground before fleeing. Mr Kritzinger fired at them but missed.
    
    
14. Mr Mashula and Ms Malikutu were at their home on a farm in North West when Mashula answered a knock at the door. Two men entered and started assaulting Mashula. They then produced firearms and fired shots at Mashula, wounding him fatally in the chest. They also fired shots at Ms Malikutu while she was attempting to flee, wounding her seriously. They robbed a television set and fled on foot. (Fatality)
    
    
15. Dr Atkinson (84) was at her house on a farm in the Western Cape when a man wearing a balaclava entered and overpowered her. The man put a piece of cloth over her head and attempted to strangle her, but failed. He then tied her hands with a piece of cloth and locked her into the bathroom. The suspect then ransacked the house and robbed cash, jewellery and a hi-fi- system. He also took her automatic teller machine card with which he later withdrew cash at the bank. The victim sustained injuries.
    
    
16. Mr Alfred, his wife and a farm worker were at their house on the farm when two men, wearing balaclavas and gloves, entered and threatened the victims with firearms. Something distracted the attackers’ attention, however, and they fled.
    
    
17. A suspect was arrested in the Western Cape for being in possession of suspected stolen goods. While searching through the goods, the police found a knife with bloodstains. They confronted the suspect, who admitted that he and another man had been involved in an attack on a smallholding. The police accompanied the suspect to the smallholding where they found the body of Mr Nel (42) in the bathroom. A second suspect was then arrested nearby. (Fatality)
    
    
18. Mrs Wilsenach (66) and her husband were watching television on their farm in Mpumalanga when a man entered. He threatened them with a firearm and instructed them to sit down. Wilsenach ran to his room to fetch his pistol. The attacker fired a
    shot, hitting Mr Wilsenach in the knee. He then returned fire and the attacker fled.
    
    
19. A female (41, black) and her younger brother were alone at their house on a farm in Mpumalanga when there was a knock on the door. When the woman opened the door an unknown man entered and asked for water. She gave him some water but he started assaulting her. She tried to flee but the man overpowered her and raped her. When she screamed, someone came to her assistance and the attacker fled. (Rape)
    
    
20. Mr Snyman (50) withdrew a large amount of cash from the bank and returned to his smallholding in Gauteng. When he stopped at the gate two men in a vehicle stopped behind him, threatened him with firearms and demanded money. They took the money and left in their vehicle.
    
    
21. Mrs Nhlabana (32), a security guard on a farm in Mpumalanga, was approached by two men. They threatened her and robbed her of her shotgun and cell phone. They fled on foot.
    
    
22. Two men approached Mr Motsweni, a security guard on a farm in Mpumalanga, at his caravan. They threatened him with firearms and tied him up. They then robbed 340 litres of diesel fuel.
    
    
23. Mr More (48) was asleep on his smallholding in North West when he was awoken by two men. They threatened him with firearms and demanded money. More informed them that there was no money in the house, whereafter they robbed groceries and clothing. They fled on foot.
    
    
24. Mr Bhembe (29) was selling chickens on his employer’s farm in Mpumalanga when three men approached him and pretended to want to buy chickens. While Bhembe was busy with the chickens, one of the men took out a firearm, threatened him and demanded cash. They robbed R2 000 and a cellphone.
    
    
25. The farm workers on a farm in the Eastern Cape last saw Mr Deetlefs (72) on the Saturday. When they arrived at the farmstead on the Sunday there was nobody. They contacted Deetlefs’s son, who found his father’s body lying in the shed in a pool of blood. He had been struck in the head with a sickle. His shotgun was missing. (Fatality)
    
    
26. Mr Lumley was asleep in his house on a smallholding in Gauteng when three men gained entry by forcing open the back door. The attackers overpowered Lumley and assaulted him with a crowbar. While one threatened Lumley with a knife, the other two ransacked the house, robbing electrical appliances as well as two firearms.
    
    
27. Two suspects threatened a farm worker on a farm in the Eastern Cape with a firearm and demanded information in connection with the number of persons on the farm and the place where the money was being kept. The farm workers informed the police, who went to the farm immediately, but the men had gone.
    
    
28. Mr Masinga (28) was in his house on a smallholding in Mpumalanga when there was a noise outside. When he went to investigate five attackers overpowered him and demanded money. The men forced him back into the house where they robbed him of money, clothes, a television set and a radio. They fled on foot.
    
    
29. Ms Gumede (23) was at her place of employment on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal when
    she was confronted by three men armed with a firearm and knives. They demanded money and firearms. They then robbed a revolver and the key to the vehicle, but they fled on foot.
    
    
30. Mr Meyer (64) was asleep in his house on a farm in the Eastern Cape when he was awoken by a noise inside the house. He went to investigate and was confronted by a man who threw articles at him and kicked the lantern out of his hands. The man then tried to stab Mr Meyer with a knife, before fleeing.
    
    
31. The body of Mr Flower (57) was found outside his house on a smallholding in Gauteng, where he was living alone. His hands were tied and he had apparently been beaten with an iron rod. At that stage it was unknown whether anything had been taken. (Fatality)
    
    
32. Unknown suspects stole nine head of cattle from Mr Oosthuizen’s farm in Gauteng. They herded the cattle for about 20 km to a sink hole near a mine. There they cut the tendons of the cattle, apparently to immobilise them. The cattle were then found by Oosthuizen, who had to put them down because of the injuries.
    
    
33. Mrs Coetzee (73) was awoken by a man standing over her in her house on a smallholding in North West. When she asked the man what he wanted he assaulted her with the fists and tried to strangle her. Her son woke up because of the noise. When he entered the room the man jumped through the window and fled. It was then discovered that a television set, radio and food had been robbed. Mrs Coetzee had a broken jaw and other injuries.
    
    
34. Mr Knoop (72) arrived home on his smallholding in Mpumalanga. While he waited for his wife to open the gate, an unknown person broke the window on the passenger side. Knoop fired a shot in the direction of the person, who then fled.
    
    
35. The charred bodies of Mr Katonis (78) and his wife (67), both white, were found in a ditch on their smallholding in Gauteng. There were burnt out tyres on top of the bodies as well as cement blocks. A car bonnet was put on top of everything. It seemed that the couple had been overpowered at the gate to the smallholding. Their motorcar had gone, but nothing else was stolen. (Two fatalities)
    
    
36. The farmer from Mpumalanga left early in the morning to go to another farm, but he left the house open for the domestic worker, Ms Joyce. Ten minutes after he had gone three men entered the room of Ms Joyce. They threatened her and her male friend, Mr Hlango, with a pistol and tied them up with ropes. One man said that they knew the farm very well and that he would show the other where the safe was. The atackers then went to the main house where they stole a satellite decoder, video machine, clothes and other household item. When the farmer returned shortly afterwards the attackers had gone.
    
    
37. Mr Plaatjies (35) a farm security guard, was alone in his house on a farm in the Eastern Cape when four men, armed with knives, knocked on the door and entered. They grabbed Plaatjies, threw him to the ground and dragged him into a room. He screamed but the attackers gagged and blindfolded him, and then tied his hands. They then ransacked the house, robbing groceries and meat. Before leaving they cut the telephone cables.
    
    
38. Mr Van Heerden (34) withdrew a large amount of cash at the bank and returned to his smallholding in Gauteng. When he stopped four men, one armed with a pistol, approached him. They threatened him and he was hit over the head with an unknown object. The attackers then robbed the money and his jacket. They fled in a motor vehicle.
    
    
39. Mr Faure was sleeping in his house on his farm in Western Cape when he was awoken by a noise. He took his shotgun and went to investigate. He saw two men running out of the house. The sliding door had been forced open and the room ransacked. His video recorder and hi-fi set were gone. Faure then noticed a man standing in the passage with a shiny object in his hand. He fired a shot at the man, fatally wounding him. A pair of scissors were found on the body.
    
    
40. Four men entered the office of Mr Karner on his farm in the Western Cape and held him and nine farm workers a gunpoint. They forced Karner to open the safe, and they took R5 000, as well as two shotguns. The victims were then locked up in a cooling room. The attackers fled in a motor vehicle.
    
    
41. Mr Basana (35) was on duty as a security officer on a smallholding in Gauteng when a group of fourteen men overpowered him. They threatened him with a firearm and tied his hands with piece of rope. They then ransacked the premises and robbed boxes of food as well as two cellphones and jewellery. They fled in a truck.
    
    
42. Mr Joubert (61) returned to his smallholding in KwaZulu-Natal with his truck and stopped in front of the garage. When he got out of his truck to open the garage door, a group of nine men overpowered him. They assaulted him repeatedly and dragged him to a dark spot. One attacker had a firearm and threatened to ‘blow his brains out.’ They demanded firearms and money. They then tied Joubert’s hands and feet and carried him into the house, where they demanded the keys to the safe. He told them where the keys were, and they robbed a shotgun, a rifle, ammunition and cash. They also ransacked the house. They again assaulted Joubert until he lost consciousness, before they fled in his vehicle.
    
    
43. A female, (20, black) was approached by three men on a farm in Mpumalanga where she lived. They overpowered her and took her to an open veld where she was raped. Later they took her to a house and raped her again. She managed to escape early the next morning. (Rape)
    
    
44. Mr Minisi (38) was at his house on a farm in Mpumalanga when an unknown person or persons fired two shots through his bedroom window. The person(s) then ran away. The motive for the attack is unknown. One bullet head was recovered on the scene.
    
    
45. A white woman and her daughter (15) were at their house on their smallholding in Gauteng when they were overpowered by two men. The men forced the victims into separate rooms, where their feet were tied. The men then raped the victims before fleeing. One of the attackers had come to the house earlier in the day and asked for water. Nothing was stolen. (Two rapes)
    
    
46. Mr Kaitako (43) was asleep in the farmhouse of a farm in Mpumalanga when two men kicked open the door. They asked Kaitako where the farm owner was and he told
    them the owner was away. They then tied Kaitako’s hands and ordered him to open all the rooms as well as the safe. After they established that there were no firearms in the safe they started consuming food and liquor. They played music and danced. Later they took some tools and a radio, cut the telephone cable and left. Kaitako suffered minor injuries.
    
    
47. Mr Ngwenya (35) was working in the shed on a farm in Mpumalanga when he was approached by two men. One of them was armed with a firearm and the other with a knife. They treatened Ngwenya and demanded money. He refused to give them money, and the one cut his overall with the knife. The men then robbed Ngwenya of money and his cell phone before fleeing. There were no injuries.
    
    
48. Mrs Transell (45) was sitting in her house on the farm when she was hit over the head with an object. She then noticed three men armed with sticks. They went to the safe, opened it and removed two firearms as well as jewellery. Mr Transell arrived at the house and the suspects fired several shots at him. He went for help, but when he returned to the house the men had already fled. Mrs Transell sustained head injuries.
    
    
49. Mr Bagg (72) and Ms Masilela (34) were transporting the workers’ wages, a very large amount of money, to the farm. When they slowed down to drive across a grid in the road, three men approached and threatened them with firearms. Baggs tried to drive away but he stopped when one of the attackers broke the window. One forced Baggs to move to the passenger seat while one got into the back with Masilela. The third one took the briefcase with the money and walked to the main road. The other two then drove some distance with the victims where they stopped, took the vehicle’s keys and walked away. No injuries were sustained.
    
    
50. Mr Khoza (26) and two co-workers were at a farm stall in Mpumalanga selling bananas when two men entered. They threatened the workers with firearms and instructed them to lie down on the floor. The attackers robbed R1 500 in cash and two cellular phones, before fleeing. No injuries were sustained.
    
    
51. Mr Muller (77) was at home on his smallholding in Gauteng when three men overpowered him. They threatened him with firearms and tied him up. They robbed Muller of his watch and ring, locked him and his dog in the bedroom and fled on foot. No injuries were sustained.
    
    
52. Mr Mqabelo (40) and a friend were on the smallholding in Gauteng when three men approached them and threatened them with firearms. The attackers robbed Mqabelo of R300 in a case as well as a cell phone. When Mqabelo’s friend resisted, the attackers fired a shot at him, wounding him. They fled on foot.
    
    
53. Mr Van Eyssen (65) and his wife were approached by six men on their smallholding in Mpumalanga. Four were armed with firearms. Van Eyssen was overpowered and hit on the head. The attackers took Mrs Van Eyssen inside the house and into the bathroom, where they pushed her head under the water in the bath. They then forced her to write them a cheque to the value of R5 000 and demanded that she open the safe. They then robbed three firearms in the safe. They cut the telephone cable before loading a bicycle onto Van Eyssen’s truck and driving off. Both victims were injured.
    
    
54. Three men entered the house on a farm in North West Province by cutting the burglar proofing and breaking a window. They then overpowered Mrs Geldenhuys (61, white), Ms Reyneke (white) as well as a visiting friend and a farm worker. The attackers assaulted Geldenhuys and forced her to open the safe, whereafter they robbed a shot gun, two pistols, a revolver and an amount of cash. They fled on foot. Geldenhuys had a broken jaw.
    
    
55. Mr Van Staden (21) was at his house on the farm in Mpumalanga. When he went outside he was approached by three men. Two of them had pistols and they threatened him. Van Staden started running and the attackers fired three shots at him. He fell down whereafter he was overpowered and forced into the house. They tied him up, searched him and took the keys to the safe. They then robbed a pistol from the safe, as well as a television set, computer, radio, cellular phone and cash. They loaded the loot into Van Staden’s truck and drove off. No injuries were sustained.
    
    
56. Mrs Sibui (59) and her husband were asleep in their house on the farm in Mpumalanga when four men forced open a window. They overpowered the couple and threatened them with a knife. The attackers robbed R1 050 in cash, whereafter they fled. Mrs Sibuya sustained a cut to her thumb.
    
    
57. Mr Koen (32) returned to his home on the farm in Mpumalanga. When the headlights shone on the house he noticed a man carrying his microwave oven out of the kitchen. The man ran away and dropped the oven. When Koen entered his house and switched on the kitchen light another man fired six shots at him. The attacker then fled from the scene. Three bullet heads were later found. No injuries were sustained.
    
    
58. Mr Falconer (45) was in his house on the farm in Mpumalanga. When he went outside he was approached by four men. They threatened him with firearms and assaulted him, before forcing him back into the house. There they robbed three pistols, a shotgun and electrical appliances. Falconer sustained injuries.
    
    
59. Mr Gunther (62) was alone on his smallholding in Gauteng when persons attempted to steal his car. From the investigation it seems as if Gunther confronted the attackers but he was overpowered. They assaulted him and forced him into the house, where he succumbed to his injuries. The motorcar’s ignition had been tampered with and a knife, hammer, broken bottle and a brick were found inside the vehicle. The house was ransacked and initial investigations showed that a radio was missing. Gunther’s body was found the next day by the domestic worker. (Fatality)
    
    
60. Mr Raath (32) telephoned the SAPS, informing them that he was being attacked on his smallholding in Gauteng. The police could hear shots being fired over the telephone. They rushed to the scene, where there was a shoot-out with the attackers. Two attackers were wounded, one of whom died on the way to the hospital. A generator and computer equipment were found in possession of the attackers. There were six to eight attackers.
    
    
61. Mr Janse van Vuuren (77), who lived alone on his farm in North West Province, went outside in the morning when three men overpowered and assaulted him. They forced grass into his mouth in order to silence him. They then dragged him into the house and tied him up in the bedroom. The attackers opened the safe and robbed a pistol and a revolver. A neighbour, Mr Botha (45) arrived and knocked on the door. When there was no reply he walked round the house. When he passed a window one of the attackers fired a shot at him, fatally hitting him below the left eye. The attackers then fled on foot. Janse van Vuuren sustained injuries. (Fatality)
    
    
62. Three men approached the house of Mr Nkwena on a smallholding in Gauteng and fired a shot through the door. They then broke down the door, entered and overpowered Nkwena and his wife. They assaulted the victims and demanded money. They ransacked the house and robbed clothing and R120 in cash. Before fleeing they fired shots at the victims, wounding Nkwena in the leg.
    
    
63. Mr Ntiwane (59) was asleep in his house on a smallholding in Mpumalanga, when he was awoken by two men. They told him not to get up, but he started fighting with them. The attackers then assaulted him, hitting him on the head with a firearm. They locked him into one of the rooms before robbing household items and electrical appliances. Injuries were sustained.
    
    
64. Mrs Shongwe (37) and her husband were asleep in their home on a farm in Mpumalanga when they were awoken by men. The attackers assaulted the couple before robbing a television set and a radio. Both victims sustained injuries.
    
    
65. When Mr Malan (53) arrived on his smallholding in Limpopo and stopped to open the gate, three men overpowered and assaulted him. They kicked him and robbed him of money and his cellular phone before fleeing. Malan sustained minor injuries.
    
    
66. Three men entered the shebeen of Mr Ngube (25) on a plot in Gauteng. They held the patrons at gunpoint and robbed a firearm and about R400 in cash. A shoot-out occurred, and Ngube was shot in the arm and stomach. A patron as well as one of the attackers were also injured. The other attackers put their injured accomplice in a vehicle and fled.
    
    
67. The body of Mr Maritz (51) was found in an orchard on his farm in the Western Cape on Christmas Day. He had stabwounds to the left shoulder. (Fatality)
    
    
68. A female (53, white) was alone in her house on a farm in Mpumalanga when when a man, wearing a mask, gained entry into the house through an unlocked door. The attacker overpowered her and demanded sexual intercourse. The woman managed to fight of the attacker, however, whereafter he fled. She sustained minor injuries. (Attempted rape)
    
    
69. Mr Mlimi (26) and his parents were at their home on a farm in Mpumalanga when two men broke on of the windows. The attackers entered the house and threatened the father with a firearm. The attackers demanded money, but Mlimi informed them that they had nothing. The attackers then robbed a television set, speakers, CD’s and groceries before fleeing. No injuries were sustained.
    
    
70. Mr and Mrs Kirkpatric were in the house on a smallholding in Mpumalanga when five men entered and overpowered the husband. The attackers gagged Kirkpatric and tied his hands. They demanded money and firearms. The attackers went to the kitchen where they overpowered Mrs Kirkpatric (55) and their daughter (22), tied them up and ordered them to lie on the floor. The attackers burnt Mr and Mrs Kirkpatric with a hot iron, and kicked and assaulted them with fists. They then robbed a revolver, cash and household appliances, loaded the loot onto Kirkpatric’s truck and motor car,
    and drove off. The couple sustained minor injuries.
    
    
71. M Van Rooyen (31) was awoken by a noise in the house on a farm in Mpumalanga. He took his firearm and went to investigate. He was confronted by two men, one armed with a wheel spanner. Van Rooyen fired one shot at the intruders, who then fled from the house. A large amount of stolen goods were found outside the house. One suspect was later arrested with a bullet wound. He had some stolen property on him.
    
    
72. Mr Lekoe was asleep in his house on a smallholding in Mpumalanga when two men entered. The attackers struck him with a firearm on the forehead, whereafter they robbed him of a television set and other appliances. They fled in a vehicle. Lekoe sustained minor injuries.
    
    
73. The body of Mr Mathebula (65), a security guard on a smallholding in Mpumalanga, was found on the premises. He had been shot and killed, and two sheep had been stolen. (Fatality)
    
    
74. Mr Maphanga (29) and his colleagues were guarding the house of a farm in Mpumalanga, when three men approached them and threatened them with firearms. Maphanga’s colleagues managed to flee from the scene, but the attackers bound Maphanga with wire and left him in one of the outbuildings. They then forced open the burglar proofing at a kitchen window, entered the house and stole several household items. They returned to Maphanga, robbed his cellular phone, radio and cash and left.
    
    
75. Mrs Van Huyssteen was overpowered by two men inside her house on a smallholding in Gauteng. They threatened her with firearms and tied her up. They then took money, electrical appliances and jewellery before fleeing. There were no injuries.
    
    
76. Two men forced open the security gate of the house on a smallholding in Gauteng, and overpowered Mrs Brink (79). They strangled and kicked her, demanding money and firearms. The victim informed them that she had not money or firearms, whereafter they robbed a television set, decoder and electrical appliances, loaded it into Mrs Brink’s motor car and drove off. Mrs Brink sustained injuries.
    
    
77. Mr Jordaan (57), his son (25) and Mr Vorster were in their home on a smallholding in North West Province when six men, armed with handguns, knives and stones, entered. They attacked Jordaan senior and stabbed him on the head. They grabbed a pipe and assaulted Jordaan junior and Vorster. Both sustained injuries to their backs. The victims were then tied up, whereafter the house was ransacked. The attackers robbed a hi-fi set, video machine and clothes, loaded it into two vehicles belonging to the victims and drove off.
    
    
78. The daughter of Mr and Mrs Smith (63 and 60 respectively) called the police and asked them to investigate suspicious circumstances at her parents’ home on their smallholding in Mpumalanga. When the police arrived, they forced open the gate. They found the house in disarray. Clothes and other items were strewn about. The bodies of Mr and Mrs Smith were found in the bedroom, both with injuries to the head. Several household items had been stolen. (Two fatalities)
    
    
79. The victims, both blind, were busy on the upper floor of their house on a smallholding in North West Province when they heard a noise downstairs. Mr Kruger (51) went to investigate, and he was shot at by intruders, wounding him in the head and stomach. Mr Van Zyl (30) managed to flee from the house. The attackers robbed three firearms and electrical appliances. When the alarm system was activated the robbers fled from the scene on foot. Kruger was seriously wounded and Van Zyl suffered minor injuries while fleeing.
    
    
80. Three men and two women entered the house of Mr Mbambo (37) on a farm in the Western Cape. They opened fire at Mr Sweni (27) and Mbambo’s girl friend. Zweni sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. The attackers then went to the bedroom where they fatally shot Mbambo. They threatened his girl friend and demanded money and she handed them some cash. The attackers also took two cellular phones, a television set, video recorder and beer, whereafter they fled in a motor car.
    
    
81. Mr Hlungwane was on a farm in Limpopo when three men arrived and pretended to be looking for work. When Hlungwane told them that the owner of the farm was not at home, the men overpowered him, tied him up and demanded money. They cut the back of his heels, apparently to prevent him from seeking assistance. They then broke into the main house and robbed several household items. Hlungwane managed to free himself and he walked to a neighbouring farm for assistance. All the stolen goods were recovered in a township.
    
    
82. Mr Naude (50) was overpowered and shot dead at the gate to his smallholding in Gauteng. No other information is available. (Fatality)

ANALYSIS OF EXAMPLES

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In the 82 incidents there were approximately 126 victims. (The exact number is unknown.) Forteen or 11.1% were killed, a little more than the 10.5% average for the whole year. Forty three (34.1%) were injured, the average for the year being 34.6%. In terms of fatalities and injuries it was therefore a very average month. There were six rapes (4.8%), while the average for the year was 5.0%. (There was also one attempted rape.)

Of the 126 victims only 56 (44.4%) were white, which was considerably lower than the annual percentage of 61.6%. The reason may be partly that in some cases a large number of (black) farm workers were present and were also held up while the (white) farmer was being robbed. They were therefore also regarded as victims. Of the 56 white victims, 11 (19.6%) were killed and 26 (46.4%) injured. Of the 68 black victims 3 (4.4%) were killed and 17 (25.0%) injured. Of the 6 females raped, two were white. The phenomenon that a greater proportion of white victims are killed or injured during farm attacks, was detected by the Committee on the basis of other statistics as well, although, as pointed out above, the December figures may be skewed somewhat because of the presence of so many ‘passive’ black victims in some cases.

In about half of the cases, the victims were overpowered by the attackers inside their own homes or in the immediate vicinity. This happened in the case of 25 ‘white’ homes and 15 ‘black’ homes. There are also certain other recurring scenarios in the examples, that the Committee came across frequently in other case studies as well, that can be highlighted:

• The farmer is ambushed on his return to the farm or smallholding. (See cases 34, 42 and 65.)
  
  
• The farmer withdraws a large amount of money at the bank and is followed by the attackers and overpowered. (See cases 13, 20, 38 and 49.)
  
  
• The farmer is attacked in his office where there is a large amount of money. (See cases 6, 12 and 40.)
  
  
• The security guard is attacked while protecting the farm. (See cases 21, 22, 37, 41, 73 and 74.)
  
  
• The domestic worker in the farmstead is attacked while her employer is absent. (See cases 11, 29 and 36.)

From the above it is clear that the December 2001 statistics correspond to a large degree with the statistics for the whole year. That is one indication that the examples are a valid sample of farm attacks in general, committed during 2001. It therefore gives an authentic overview of farm attacks in general.