Former Springbok Lucas van Biljon stabbed and father shot in farm attack

Former South African rugby star Lukas van Biljon was stabbed repeatedly in the chest and his father shot three times and left for dead when six men attacked their farm at midnight.

Springbok hooker Van Biljon, 47, was warned if he fought back his children – who were tied up – would be killed as the gang ransacked the farm at Oranjeville in the Free State.

The controversial player – who was dropped from the Boks after 13 caps in 2003, after a nightclub brawl – was stabbed several times, and kicked, as a “strong warning to behave”. A friend said: “Robbers threatened to kill his children if he didn’t give them money. Barbaric to say the least. Can you imagine that?”

Lukas’ 70-year-old father Andre had tried to make a desperate call to fellow farmers for help on a radio, but was spotted by the gang and shot three times in the chest and hand. He is in critical condition in hospital. The friend said: “This is not how we are supposed to live. Fear every day knowing anything can happen at every corner.”

South African Police (SAPS) spokesperson Captain Loraine Earle said two of the attackers were arrested after local farmers were alerted and implemented an action plan to block all roads.

She said:

”Just after midnight on Saturday the police were called to a robbery at a smallholding at Oranjeville belonging to the Van Biljon family where two men were injured.

“It is alleged six armed men entered the house and tied the children with cable ties, and a 47-year-old man was stabbed and his 70-year-old father shot during the robbery.”

A farmer who knows the Van Biljon family well said:

“Lukas is a big strong boy but he could do nothing as it was made clear his children would be shot if he put up a fight.

“He was still stabbed several times but it is father Andre who is the worry as he is in intensive care in a very bad way from gunshots”.

A relative, Martin van Biljon, who referred to Lukas as his ‘klein boet’ (little brother), said on social media (in Afrikaans): “One hears about farm attacks, farm murders… it feels like a story. One does not realise the reality until it happens to your own people. My heart is broken today. How can one be so cruel? We must not hate and take revenge.”

He said his brother had been woken up in the middle of the night with a 9mm gun to his head, and told that if he didn’t give them money his son would be shot dead in front of him. Martin ended his message: “Pray for my people. Pray for SA.”

The two arrested suspects were due at the Heilbron Magistrate’s Court today on charges of house robbery and attempted murder, while a hunt is ongoing for the other four or five suspects.

The former Sharks hooker played 13 times for the Springboks between 2001 and 2003 with his first game versus Italy and his last versus New Zealand.

Last year there were a reported 333 farm attacks in South Africa, with 55 murders of men, women and children.

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