Farm attack, pregnant woman strangled and assaulted, Hazyview

South Africa: Farm attack, pregnant woman strangled and assaulted, Hazyview

Crime Correspondent

June 3, 2022

Farm attack, pregnant woman strangled and assaulted, Hazyview

A farm attack took place on Tuesday 31 May 2022 on a farm in Hazyview, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Celeste Vorster (36) was taking a mid morning nap in the bedroom. She was alone at home and is two months pregnant. Juan, her husband, was at work a few kilometers away.

Celeste was woken up by the attacker who was next to the bed. The attacker climbed on top of Celeste and hit her in the face. He had broken into the house through the front door.

The attacker placed a sock in Celeste’s mouth and used one of Juan’s ties to wrap it around her mouth, neck and head. He also tied up Celeste further with a cellphone charging cable.

The attacker kept asking for money and guns.

When he started to search the rest of the house, Celeste managed to grab her cellphone which the attacker not taken yet and sent a message to her husband.

Juan jumped in his vehicle and rushed home. When he arrived home the attacker jumped over a fence and ran away. He got away with the house keys and jewelry.

Celeste was examined by a doctor who confirmed the unborn baby is fine.

Her back was injured where the attacker kicked her. She was left very traumatized by the incident.

Police are investigating but there have been no arrests.

Read about more farm attacks here

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/farm-attack-pregnant-woman-strangled-and-assaulted-hazyview/

2 Farm attacks in less than a week included torture and murder, Mpumalanga

 

2 Farm attacks in less than a week included torture and murder, Mpumalanga, South Africa

FF Plus

March 23, 2022

2 Farm attacks in less than a week included torture and murder, Mpumalanga

Two farm attacks in less than a week proves that rural safety is not a priority for Mpumalanga’s police force and provincial government.

In the latest incident on Sunday, six farm attackers strangled Mr Gustav Rappart (76) to death and tied up his wife, Elma, on their farm outside Delmas. The attackers made off with two cell phones.

It followed close on the heels of a similar attack, which took place on 11 March 2022, on Mara outside Mbombela/Nelspruit.

During that attack, three women, namely Ansie Nel, her mother of 84, Miemie du Toit, and Sophie Mpila were tied up and tortured. When he arrived home, Mr Hendrik Nel was also overpowered, bound and tortured.

The five alleged farm attackers fled with three firearms and various other items.

Clearly, the ANC government in Mpumalanga does not have the political will to combat this type of crime and make rural safety a priority.

The FF Plus requested the Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety to summon the MEC for Community Safety, Vusi Shongwe, and the provincial Police Commissioner, Lt.-Gen. Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, to appear before the Committee to report on the matter.

They must provide answers on the implementation of the rural safety plan in Mpumalanga and the critical lack of police resources, like vehicles, which prevents the police force from doing its job properly.

Although it is the police’s duty to implement the rural safety plan, the MEC must, as political head, monitor its progress.

The FF Plus is once again calling on rural communities to intensify their personal safety and security measures.

Ways in which to do this is to join the local farm watches and community policing forums, to remain vigilant at all times, and not to trust strangers.

The FF Plus in Mpumalanga expresses its deepest condolences to the family of Mr Rappart and wishes the surviving victims a speedy recovery.

Read: Farm attack, 5 attackers brutally assault, tie up family, Nelspruit

Read: Farm murder, 6 attackers kill farmer (76), assault, tie up wife, Delmas

Read about more farm attacks here

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/2-farm-attacks-in-less-than-a-week-included-torture-and-murder-mpumalanga/

Farm attack, elderly couple assaulted, man (73) critical, Bloemfontein

 

South Africa: Farm attack, elderly couple assaulted, man (73) critical, Bloemfontein

Crime Correspondent

April 4, 2022

Farm attack, elderly couple assaulted, man (73) critical, Bloemfontein

A farm attack took place on the evening of Saturday 2 April 2022, in the Vaalbank Zuid smallholding area near Bloemfontein in the Free State province of South Africa. Ando Swanepoel (73), is in critical condition in hospital after he was ambushed and attacked at the gate to his property.

Ando was attacked by a number of black male attackers. He was mercilessly beaten over the head. While Ando was being attacked another black male attacker confronted Ando’s wife Magda (58) in the house and demanded money.

Magda tried to fight back against the attacker as she could hear her husband was also being attacked outside.

The first attacker was joined by a second one and they overpowered Magda and assaulted her.

They forced her to make an electronic fund transfer from her bank account. They also took cash and other valuable property from the house and then fled.

The neighbourhood watch who responded discovered Ando where he was lying unconscious at the gate. He was admitted to hospital in critical condition.

His face was broken in three different places.

Read about more farm attacks here

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/free-state/farm-attack-elderly-couple-assaulted-man-73-critical-bloemfontein/

Farm attack, worker assaulted, tied up, owner ambushed, robbed of firearm, Sundra

 

South Africa: Farm attack, worker assaulted, tied up, owner ambushed, robbed of firearm, Sundra

Oorgrens veiligheid

March 29, 2022

Farm attack, worker assaulted, tied up, owner ambushed, robbed of firearm, Sundra

A farm attack took place on 27 March 2022, at 22:00, on a smallholding in Sundra, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The house worker and her boyfriend were in the backroom of the house when 4 unknown attackers entered.

They were threatened with an iron rod and tied up with ropes.

The attackers then ransacked the home an stole cellphones and a television.

When the owner of the house arrived he was hit with an iron rod over the head and dragged into the home.

The complainant’s pistol, cellphone as well as cash was robbed.

The attackers then fled the scene on foot.

All role-players responded to assist. The police at Sundra are investigating the attack but there have been no arrets.

There is no other information available at this stage.

Read about more farm attacks here

Information supplied by Oorgrens veiligheid

South Africa Today – South Africa News

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/farm-attack-worker-assaulted-tied-up-owner-ambushed-robbed-of-firearm-sundra/

Farm attack, worker assaulted, tied up, owner ambushed, robbed of firearm, Sundra

 

South Africa: Farm attack, worker assaulted, tied up, owner ambushed, robbed of firearm, Sundra

Oorgrens veiligheid

March 29, 2022

Farm attack, worker assaulted, tied up, owner ambushed, robbed of firearm, Sundra

A farm attack took place on 27 March 2022, at 22:00, on a smallholding in Sundra, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The house worker and her boyfriend were in the backroom of the house when 4 unknown attackers entered.

They were threatened with an iron rod and tied up with ropes.

The attackers then ransacked the home an stole cellphones and a television.

When the owner of the house arrived he was hit with an iron rod over the head and dragged into the home.

The complainant’s pistol, cellphone as well as cash was robbed.

The attackers then fled the scene on foot.

All role-players responded to assist. The police at Sundra are investigating the attack but there have been no arrets.

There is no other information available at this stage.

Read about more farm attacks here

Information supplied by Oorgrens veiligheid

South Africa Today – South Africa News

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/farm-attack-worker-assaulted-tied-up-owner-ambushed-robbed-of-firearm-sundra/

Farm attack, woman and worker assaulted, tied up, Rietkol, Delmas

 

South Africa: Farm attack, woman and worker assaulted, tied up, Rietkol, Delmas

Oorgrens veiligheid

March 26, 2022

Farm attack, woman and worker assaulted, tied up, Rietkol, Delmas

A farm attack took place on the morning of 26 March 2022, on a smallholding in Rietkol, Delmas, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. A woman was overpowered outside her home and then dragged back into the house by an unknown number of attackers.

The woman was severely assaulted and tied up along with her domestic worker.

The attackers were demanding firearms and money.

The home was ransacked and the attackers loaded stolen items into the victims family car but were unable to start it. They then fled on foot.

Local security responded to assist and found the woman and her domestic worker tied up. The woman had severe bruising and swelling on her face.

Police are investigating the attack and robbery but there have been no arrests.

There is no other information available at this stage.

Read about more farm attacks here

Information supplied by Oorgrens veiligheid

South Africa Today – South Africa News

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/farm-attack-woman-and-worker-assaulted-tied-up-rietkol-delmas/

Farm murder, 6 attackers kill farmer (76), assault, tie up wife, Delmas

 

South Africa: Farm murder, 6 attackers kill farmer (76), assault, tie up wife, Delmas

Oorgrens veiligheid

March 20, 2022

Farm murder, 6 attackers kill farmer, assault, tie up wife, Delmas. Photo: Facebook

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned an incident in which a 76-year-old man was killed in a farm at Delmas in the morning of Sunday 20 March 2022. A manhunt for the suspects have been launched.

According to the report, It is said that at about 11:00, a man and his wife were in their house at a farm (Welgevonden) in Delmas when they heard the sound of a hooter at the gate.

The man then went outside to check and the wife reported that she observed six males who indicated that they were there to buy grass bales. The suspects were then reportedly informed by the man that it was Sunday and he could not help them before going back to the house.

A few moments later, the old man informed his wife that he decided to assist them anyway. The suspects are said to have then allegedly strangled the old man. Thereafter four armed suspects reportedly entered the house where they demanded for cash from the man’s wife.

The woman was then reportedly tied up with strings after she indicated to their assailants that they did not have cash. The suspects are said to have then went through the house searching for money.

After a while the suspects reportedly left with two cell phones.

The man’s wife, who was unaware of what has happened to her husband at the time managed to walk to the neighbour’s farm to seek help. After a search at the premises, the body of Mr Gustav Rappard (her husband) was found in the barn.

Police and the medical personnel were notified about the incident. The man was unfortunately certified dead and police opened a case of murder hence the manhunt.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has called for the swift arrest of the suspects. “Those suspects should be hunted down and be brought to book within a short space of time. It is really a disgrace that suspects target defenceless victims and after robbing them, they shamefully murder them” commented the General.

Media statement issued by the office of the Provincial Commissioner in Mpumalanga

Information supplied by Oorgrens veiligheid

Read about more farm attacks here

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/farm-murder-6-attackers-kill-farmer-76-assault-tie-up-wife-delmas/

Farm attack, farmer (80) and employee tied up, 2 attackers arrested, Camperdown

 

South Africa: Farm attack, farmer (80) and employee tied up, 2 attackers arrested, Camperdown

South African Police Service

March 10, 2022

Farm attack, farmer (80) and employee tied up, 2 attackers arrested, Camperdown

On 9 March 2022 at 13:00, an 80-year-old farmer and his employee were at his farm on Umlaas Road in Camperdown when they accosted by two armed attackers. At gunpoint the attackers instructed the victims to lie down and secured both their hands with tape.

They demanded the keys for the main house which the owner complied with.

The men proceeded to the main house and stole a laptop, binoculars, rechargeable light, headphones, golf bag and home theatre system.

The victims managed to untie themselves and called a neighbour who immediately responded and also alerted the Camperdown police together with other law enforcement agencies.

The suspects aged between 27 and 32 were traced and arrested close to the crime scene. They were found in possession of the stolen items and the firearm used in the commission of this crime.

The investigation revealed that the pistol was taken during a robbery in Mpumalanga in 2013.

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/kwazulu-natal/farm-attack-farmer-80-and-employee-tied-up-2-attackers-arrested-camperdown/

Farm attack, farmer ambushed, attackers firearm jams, Paulpietersburg

 

South Africa: Farm attack, farmer ambushed, attackers firearm jams, Paulpietersburg

Oorgrens veiligheid

March 6, 2022

Farm attack, farmer ambushed, attackers firearm jams, Paulpietersburg

A farm attack took place on 5 March 2022, at 20:15, on a farm in Paulpietersburg in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. A farmer André Claassen and his wife Wilana had just retuned home and were pulling into their garage when an attacker came running up to his vehicle.

The attacker pointed the firearm at the farmer and pulled the trigger, fortunately the firearm did not go off.

The farmer reversed out of the garage and sped to safety.

It is unclear how many attackers were on the property.

The farmer called for help and all role players responded. The were tracks found and an operation was launched.

There were however no arrests. No one was injured during the attack.

There is no other information available at this stage.

Read about more farm attacks here

Information supplied by Oorgrens veiligheid

South Africa Today – South Africa News

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/kwazulu-natal/farm-attack-farmer-ambushed-attackers-firearm-jams-paulpietersburg/

Last 6 years – 364 Farm murders in South Africa, only 33% of perpetrators were convicted

 

South Africa: Last 6 years – 364 Farm murders in South Africa, only 33% of perpetrators were convicted

AfriForum

March 3, 2022

Last 6 years - 364 Farm murders in South Africa, only 33% of perpetrators were convicted

The civil rights organisation AfriForum on 3 March 2022, released a comprehensive report on farm attacks and farm murders during a media conference. The report provides an overview of the characteristics of farm murders over the last six years (from 2016 to 2021). During this period 364 farm murders could be verified.

In its report, AfriForum highlights the poor arrest and conviction rates of perpetrators involved in farm murders in this timeframe. Using an open-source media analysis, AfriForum examined and assessed the arrest of suspects, as well as the conviction of perpetrators.

“An average of 47% of known attackers during farm murders were arrested, but only 33% of the arrested perpetrators were convicted. This is truly shocking and shows how the criminal justice system fails victims of farm attacks,” says Ernst Roets, AfriForum’s Head of Policy and Action.

The report also found that there is not a single year in which torture did not occur and that, on average, 15% of farm murder victims were tortured. According to Johan Nortjé, a researcher at AfriForum, this is extremely concerning and warrants urgent attention. In 2020 the percentage of murder victims who were tortured was 24%. “This shows that farm attacks are not just an ordinary crime and should be prioritised,” says Nortjé.

The report also highlights the following:

Gauteng had the highest number of documented farm murders, whereas the Northern Cape had the lowest.
More than 50% of murders occurred on farms, not smallholdings.
The average age of victims was 57 years, and most murder victims were male.
While most murders occurred between 18:00 and 20:59, murder incidents occurred during any time of day.
Shootings were the leading cause of death in 52% of murder victims whose cause of death was known.

“In the light of the murder and torture rates on farms, it is now necessary for farmers to take their safety into their own hands. AfriForum aims to make farmers and their families more defensible against farm attacks. AfriForum will continue to drive projects, actions and campaigns to improve the safety of our farmers and support them where we can,” concludes Roets.

Read the report here

Read about more farm attacks here

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/last-6-years-364-farm-murders-in-south-africa-only-33-of-perpetrators-were-convicted/

UKRAINE STRUGGLES WITH MESSAGE IN PRO-MOSCOW SOUTHERN AFRICA

 

UKRAINE STRUGGLES WITH MESSAGE IN PRO-MOSCOW SOUTHERN AFRICA

Many fighters went to the old Soviet Union for education and combat training, developing ties of friendship which resonate to this day.

FILE: This handout picture taken and released by the Russian Defence Ministry on 14 January 2022 shows Russian troops disembarking from a military cargo plane upon landing in Ivanovo after completing their mission in Kazakhstan. Picture: Handout/Russian Defence Ministry/AFP

RETORIA - Ukraine is finding it hard to get its message across in southern Africa, where there remains affection for Moscow dating from the apartheid era, the Ukrainian ambassador in Pretoria said.

Like Ukrainian envoys around the world, Ambassador Liubov Abravitova is striving to rally support for her invaded country.

But local recognition of Ukraine's plight is often weak and criticism of the Kremlin can be muted, Abravitova told AFP.

"There is a strong sentiment here about Russia," rooted in Moscow's support during the Cold War for anti-apartheid and anti-colonial movements, she said in an interview on Tuesday.

Many fighters went to the old Soviet Union for education and combat training, developing ties of friendship which resonate to this day.

Ukraine, then one of the 15 states of the USSR, helped in the Soviet campaign.
But after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, "Russia took all that legacy," Abravitova said in an interview.

After gaining independence, Ukraine focused on building its economy and Africa was not a priority, she admitted.

But Kyiv paid the price for lacking clout when, in 2014, Russia seized and then annexed the Crimean peninsula.

"South Africa was already a member of BRICS," said Abravitova, referring to the club of emerging economies which gathers Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

"We didn't receive a very strong message from them."

The envoy, elegantly dressed in high heels and a traditional embroided Ukrainian blouse, said she was getting little sleep these days.

She said she was spending her time putting forward her country's message and trying to counter Russian misinformation.

Her other tasks have been to try to help Ukrainian citizens fleeing the country join family members in South Africa -- as well as the estimated 16,000 African students stranded in Ukraine.

The ambassador said she was touched by the shows of sympathy for Ukraine in southern Africa, reflected by the bouquets of flowers and messages of support that have been left at the embassy.

She spoke of a European diplomat in Botswana who had asked his tailor to sew a Ukrainian flag.

Back in Ukraine, "to the people in shelters, in basements, it tells them the world is not indifferent, the world stands with them," Abravitova said.

https://ewn.co.za/2022/03/01/ukraine-struggles-with-message-in-pro-moscow-southern-africa

Farm murder: Woman (79) found murdered on her farm, Bultfontein

 

South Africa: Farm murder: Woman (79) found murdered on her farm, Bultfontein

Oorgrens veiligheid

February 25, 2022

Farm murder: Woman (79) found murdered on her farm, Bultfontein

A farm murder took place on the weekend of 20 February 2022, on a farm in the Bultfontein area, in the Free State province of South Africa. The body of Lettie de Ru (79) was discovered in her farmhouse by her son.

It was first thought that de Ru had died of natural causes. There was also no forced entry to the home.

After investigating it was established that items had been stolen.

The autopsy confirmed that de Ru had been strangled to death.

The police are investigating the murder but there have been no arrests.

There is no other information available at this stage.

Read about more farm attacks here

Information supplied by Oorgrens veiligheid

South Africa Today – South Africa News

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/free-state/farm-murder-woman-79-found-murdered-on-her-farm-bultfontein/