Manhunt Launched in Western Cape After Armed Farm Robbery Leaves 2 Dead, Including 1 Suspect

A manhunt has been launched in the Western Cape, South Africa, after an armed robbery on a farm in Phillipi by a gang of eight to 10 men, in which they allegedly shot the foreman in the back. He tragically succumbed to his injuries on his way to hospital. One of the suspects was also killed.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said two suspects have been arrested and SAPS forces on the ground have launched a manhunt, with the assistance of the air wing.

The farm attack occurred at around 08h50 Sunday morning, said SAPS.

“A farmer and his son were busy with maintenance work on the property when ten men arrived on the pretence of conducting business. One of the suspects took out a firearm and threatened the owner, who was forced to open a safe and hand over an undisclosed amount of cash,” said SAPS.

The owner, his son and farm employees were then forced into a storeroom which was allegedly “ransacked”, and the 31-year-old farm worker (named as the foreman by AfriForum’s Ian Cameron) was “shot in the scuffle”.

The suspects fled in a white Toyota Avanza and a white Volkswagen Golf, said SAPS.

Police and farm watch members were activated leading to the arrest of two suspects aged 33 and 35.

“Meanwhile another suspect also in his thirties got killed,” said SAPS.

A white VW golf has been seized.

Another Farm Attack in Limpopo

Cameron reported another farm attack in Limpopo in the early hours of Sunday morning, following the tragic farm murder of retired attorney Johan Kruger (57) in front of his wife on Friday in Alldays, Limpopo.

A joint operation between police and a farm watch patrol led to the swift arrest of two of three suspects, both in their 20s. One is in hospital after being injured during a shoot-out between the patrollers and the suspects. The third suspect is still being sought.

In the latest Limpopo farm attack, Cameron says a gang of five attacked four victims on a farm in Bela-Bela around 02h00 Sunday morning, tying them up with electrical cords.

“Weapons, cash, jewellery and a vehicle were stolen. No injuries, no arrests despite follow up by HPG and SAPS. Vehicle was recovered,” tweeted Cameron.

Arrests following brutal Western Cape double farm murder

Western Cape police have meanwhile made a breakthrough in the murder of the Bonnievale couple who were brutally killed whilst sleeping on Thursday night in the Langeberg area of the Western Cape.

SAPS said local detectives worked “around the clock” to secure the arrest of a 33-year-old male in McGregor, a rural town not far from the murder scene.

On Friday police had been alerted to an abandoned vehicle on a dirt road. Their investigation took them to the Sandfontein farm where they discovered the bodies of the elderly couple in their 70s, said SAPS.

“It is believed the victims were hacked with a sharp object. A few items were reportedly missing from the home,” SAPS reported.

The suspect was found in possession of one of the couple’s missing items. He is expected to appear in court Tuesday, 18 December 2018. As the investigation continues, more arrests could be likely.

Renewed Call for rural safety units

Jacques Smalle – Democratic Alliance (DA) Limpopo Provincial leader – has reiterated the DA’s call on the National Government to reintroduce specialised crime fighting units to “prevent and investigate specific crime such as rural farm attacks, murder, rape, robbery, stock theft, child abuse, drug and human trafficking. We need a specialised strategy to combat these specific crimes.”