Suspect arrested in Hankey farm attack

THE man who allegedly attacked a Port Elizabeth businesswoman and her three children in their Hankey farmhouse at the weekend is due to appear in court today.

Due to the nature of the attack, the Port Elizabeth-based Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit was called in to assist Hankey detectives.

The attack happened shortly before midnight on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday.

The businesswoman, who commutes between her Hankey home and her business in Port Elizabeth, is not being identified due to the nature of the attack.

Police spokeswoman Captain Gerda Swart said that by 10.30pm on Sunday detectives had located and arrested the 30-year-old suspect at a house in Hankey.

“It is alleged the suspect gained entry into the house after firing several shots through a glass door, wounding a 44-year-old woman in the process.

“The suspect took the woman in her vehicle to an ATM in town [Hankey] to withdraw cash,” Swart said.

“Whilst the suspect was busy withdrawing cash, the victim managed to drive off in her car to another farm in the area and police were alerted.”

Asked about the woman’s condition, Swart said the family was still traumatised, but confirmed that the mother had been discharged from hospital.

The woman was shot in the lower back while shielding her three young children – who witnessed the ordeal – from the attacker.

Her husband was not home at the time.

Nothing was stolen from the house during the attack, however police maintain the motive was robbery.

Asked about a charge of rape being added to the probe, Swart confirmed this but declined to elaborate.

On Sunday morning, police took a man in for questioning but released him later.

By Sunday night, the man suspected to have committed the attack had been arrested.

“Information was followed up, which led detectives to a house in Hankey where the suspect was arrested,” Swart said.

The firearm used in the attack has not yet been found.

The man is due to appear in the Hankey Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on charges of house robbery, attempted murder, rape, pointing of a firearm, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, theft and abduction.