North West Couple Tortured for Hours in Hate-Fuelled Farm Attack

A couple in North West, South Africa – Chris and Hesta Barnard – suffered a night of terror on Wednesday when they were tortured with items including a wheel spanner, whip and iron.

Leon Basson – DA North West Provincial Leader – said:

“I was shocked to my core to learn of the horrific farm attack that took place in Koster. The hate-fuelled brutality and torture meted out on Chris and Hesta Barnard by three assailants for hours on Wednesday night must be condemned by all those who value basic human dignity.”

The assailants made use of a wheel spanner and a whip in their assault.

“If this barbarism was not enough, the assailants burned Hesta with a hot iron and cut off her hair with a knife,” said Basson.

“This kind of torture speaks of not only brutal criminality but also hatred towards people who live in rural areas who dedicate their sweat, blood, and tears, under harsh and unsafe conditions to put food on the tables of all South Africans.”

Both Chris and Hesta are in hospital receiving treatment for their injuries.

The DA has again called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to make all resources available to ensure the arrest and successful prosecution of these “hate-fuelled criminals”.

The calls have been ongoing, as have the attacks, with specific calls for Police Minister Bheki Cele to classify farm attacks as a priority crime and for the reintroduction of specialised rural safety units, equipped with the necessary equipment, technology, and manpower to bring an end to the scourge of farm attacks across South Africa.

“Unfortunately, Police Minister Bheki Cele and the entire national government continue to sit idly by while residents in rural communities are subjected to the most despicable brutality,” said Basson in a press statement on Friday.

“Farm attacks cause massive devastation, pain, and suffering, not only to victims and their families but also cause lasting damage to close-knit rural communities.

“Not only are lives lost, but with each brutal farm attack, there are fewer farmers willing to invest in working the land, producing food, and to employ people. And this is how small rural communities are slowly suffocating under criminality and economic decline.

“This must be put to a stop. Minister Bheki Cele, we do not need any more promises, we need action,” said Basson.