Two arrested after farmer murdered
A COLLABORATION between neighbouring farmers, security company officials and police in North West has led to the arrest of two suspects in connection with the murder of a farmer at his residence.
Colonel Adéle Myburgh, the spokesperson for the police in North West, said the incident happened on Wednesday, during a house robbery reported on a farm in Modderfontein, close to Rustenburg.
“Initial information received indicated that a 68-year-old, Frans Venter, was home with two workers, a gardener and domestic worker, when four suspects overpowered the gardener who was working in the garden. He shouted for help, but was tied up with an electrical cable,” Myburgh said.
The domestic worker, who reacted upon hearing the gardener screaming, was also overpowered and tied up.
“Lastly the suspects gained entry to the house and overpowered Mr Venter.
He was severely assaulted and stabbed to death. Numerous items were stolen by the suspects, who fled on foot.
“One of the workers managed to escape and ran to a neighbour for help,” said Myburgh. “Neighbouring farmers and the police were immediately alerted to the incident. A private person arranged for air support with a chopper, and numerous farmers as well as security personnel joined in a search for the suspects,” she said.
The first suspect was spotted and arrested by a security official and handed over to the police.
A short while later, police also spotted another suspect and arrested him.
“The suspects were found in possession of cellular phones, a cap pistol with blank rounds, a BB gun as well as a bag containing items robbed at the farm. Both suspects, who are believed to be in their late twenties, will appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, September 23, on charges of murder and house robbery,” she said. Two other suspects are still at large. Meanwhile, provincial commissioner of police in North West, Lieutenant-General Sello Kwena, has appealed for community members’ assistance in combating crime.
He thanked the neighbouring farmers and security company officials for the assistance that led to the arrests.
Kwena emphasised that the police would continue to work hard to ensure that perpetrators were brought to book.