Boere Krisis Aksie (B.K.A.)

Boere Krisis Aksie (B.K.A.)

4 hours ago

(Gordon) Elderly woman tortured during farm robbery

Five men were arrested after they attacked a 73-year-old-woman and two farm workers in Rikasrus.

22 January 2014 | By Johan Meyer

A 73-year-old woman from Rikasrus in Randfontein was among three people attacked in an apparent farm attack on 17 January.

A worker on the farm was allegedly doing washing outside her room when she was approached by the men.

The woman and her boyfriend, who was inside the room, was overpowered, tied up and gagged.

The men then made their way to the farm house where they tied the helpless elderly woman, Felicity Janse van Rensburg up and while severely torturing her with a stun baton and beating her, demanded firearms, cellular phones and money.

The incident occurred at approximately 1.30pm.

After ransacking the house and loading stolen household goods including a television set, DVD player and other household items into their car, a black Volkswagen Golf, they chased off.

The men also made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The badly injured and severely traumatised Janse van Rensburg was eventually freed by people reacting to an advertisement placed for a quad bike for sale, who had gone to the farm to view the bike.

According to former Randfontein Community Policing Forum chairperson and son-in-law of the victim, Mike Bosch, it was a very traumatic experience for the entire family.

"I am deeply shocked," says Bosch. "She is 73-years-old and not a threat to anyone.

"Why go to all the trouble of torturing her so severely?"

The Herald spoke with Janse van Rensburg and was shocked at the extent of her injuries.

She has suffered severe concussion, she is badly bruised - especially her face - and has a massive scar on the top of her head.

According to Janse van Rensburg, her entire upper body is black and blue and she has over 20 marks where she was injured by the stun baton.

She has since moved out from the farm and is currently living with relatives in town.

She declined to be photographed.

Bosch has applauded the excellent service of local security company, Mapogo A Mathamaga Security, as well as the SAPS and the private emergency services that attended the scene. He has also expressed his thanks to neighbours and members of the community who came to assist.

"I received the call at around 2pm and by the time I got to the farm, the police, the security company and emergency services were all there," says Bosch.

"And less that 20 minutes later, all five suspects were in custody," he adds.

Bosch says that a farmer on a neighbouring farm spotted five men pushing a black Volkwagen Golf into a ditch at the side of the road and thought nothing of it, thinking that the car had broken down.

Warrant Officer Charles Gumede, on his way to the scene spotted five men walking down the road, but thinking the robbers were in a vehicle and fearing for the health of the elderly woman with whom he is well-aquainted, he paid no heed.

When talking to the farmer, he found out about the car and Captain Nicky Theunissen and Constable Emile Thiart, on their way to the scene and armed with a very good description of the suspects managed to intercept the men near Rica Piggery.

A member of the public spotted the fifth man hiding in a nearby mealie plantation and alerted Warrant Officer Fanie Botha, who rushed to arrest the suspect.

"If it wasn't for the excellent service of our local security company, the police and private emergency services, these men would be free to attack another innocent victim today," says Bosch.

According to Randfontein SAPS spokesperson Captain Appel Ernst, the police are very pleased about the arrest of the attackers.

"The quick reaction by our police officials as well as the fantastic cooperation they received from members of the public as well as the local security company has resulted in this becoming a success story.

"It goes to show that if we all stand together in the fight against crime, criminals do not stand a chance."