April’s litany of farm attacks in South Africa includes four murders: a 54-year-old man shot to death, a mother and her adult son beaten to death with blunt instruments, and a 78-year-old wheelchair-bound man strangled to death. He was in a wheelchair because of a previous attack 20 years ago.
Reports say the farmer was attacked while working on a vehicle. When one of the attackers attempted to stab the farmer during a scuffle, the elderly man managed to fire the shot that ended one of the attacker’s life.
The incident occurred March 31, 2021.
[Farm attack, farmer shoots one attacker dead, Bishopstowe, PMB, Oorgrens veiligheid, southafricatoday.net, April 1 2021].
McKay was wheelchair bound at the time of the attack. His injuries were due to a similar attack about 20 years earlier. Reports say the hands and legs of the 46-year-old victim had been bound. The attackers also killed the victim’s dogs, though at least one of the attackers was apparently injured by the animals.
We are shocked and horrified by the murder of crippled farmer, Neil McKay of KwaZulu-Natal.
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) April 11, 2021
Who would murder a man in a wheelchair? A man in a wheelchair who was both unarmed and physically unable to protect himself. https://t.co/ymvNp4Ivzo
McKay was home alone at the time of the attack that occurred after farm hands had left for the day, leading authorities to believe the attackers had planned the attack.
The incident occurred April 11, 2021.
[KZN farm murder: Disabled man strangled to death by unknown suspects, by Dan Meyer, thesouthafrican.com, April 11, 2021]
Reports say Fanie and Susan Gouws and their daughter were attacked by as many as seven home invaders. The victims were apparently beaten with metal pipes. The suspects fled with nothing more than cell phones, apparently being alarmed by an unexpected sound. Susan managed to free herself and secured help.
#SpeakOut 📢
— Jeanette de Villiers Smuts (@devilliers98) April 14, 2021
Another Farm Attack took place on 13 April 2021 in South Africa. Between five and seven armed attackers overpowered Fanie and Susan Gouws along with their disabled daughter in their home and brutally assaulted and tied them up.https://t.co/Oi7c4z5zJ4
The incident occurred April 13, 2021.
[Farm attack: Family, including disabled daughter, violently assaulted, Balfour, Oorgrens veiligheid, southafricatoday.net, April 14, 2021]
The injured suspect was arrested at a nearby hospital.
The incident occurred April 13, 2021 outside of Kuruman on the Daniëlskuil road in the Northern Cape province
[Farm attack, one injured attacker tracked down at hospital, Kuruman, Oorgrens veiligheid, southafricatoday.net, April 14 2021]
The victim was attacked by two individuals as she returned home. Stolen were two TV’s, personal items and the victim’s vehicle.
The incident occurred April 14, 2021.
[Farm attack, woman assaulted, tied up – robbed vehicle lookout, Nelspruit, Oorgrens veiligheid, southafricatoday.net, April 15, 2021]
Reports say Andri, age 49, and Erica Fox, age 48, were robbed of firearms, cash and other valuables. The couple was watching television in the evening when intruders forced them to open their safe. A 250,000 Rand (about $18,000) reward was created by concerned neighbors for the capture and convictions of the persons responsible.
Alicedale farm attack: Police confirm American guest hid in the bush during the attack https://t.co/mtaimsw3Aj via @SATodayNews
— South Africa Today (@SATodayNews) April 15, 2021
The incident occurred April 14, 2021.
[Big reward offered for information on Alicedale farm robbery, By Riaan Marais, heraldlive.co.za, April 22, 2021]
Strydom reportedly was blindsided when she opened the door and let her dogs out. The lone attacker knocked her to the ground and beat her with his fists, then stabbed her arm when she attempted to defend herself. The victim managed to kick the attacker off her, then fled to a bedroom where she held the door closed with her feet and secured a firearm. The intruder fled when Strydom threatened to shoot him, the report said.
The attack occurred April 13, 2021.
[Farm attack, woman attacked, violently assaulted and stabbed, Sundra, Oorgrens veiligheid, southafricatoday.net, April 15 2021]
The wife, however, was able to notify neighbors for help using her cell phone. Two of the three attackers were captured by local farmers and turned over to authorities.
Reports say the victims were approached while sitting on their front porch, then forced into a bedroom where they were bound, assaulted, and threatened with firearms.
The incident occurred April 18, 2021.
[Farm attack, couple in their 80’s assaulted, tied up, farmers arrest 2, Fochville, Dorstfontein, by Crime Correspondent, southafricatoday.net, April 19, 2021]
The attackers reportedly disconnected the electricity to disable security cameras, which were also stolen. The attackers also slaughtered two pregnant cows for no apparent reason.
Can't load tweet https://twitter.com/RiotAndAttackSA/status/1385862767433994240: Sorry, that page does not exist
No arrests were reported.
The incident occurred April 23, 2021.
[Farm attack, workers tied up, pregnant stud cows slaughtered, Dorstfontein, Oorgrens veiligheid, southafricatoday.net, April 23, 2021]
Reports say suspects bound the victim in his farm office before taking jewellery, laptops, a watch, cellphone, firearms and the contents of a safe.
The suspects ranged in age from 24 to 51 and included one female.
#sapaKZN Provincial Comm, Lt Gen Mkhwanazi applauded police officers and security officials for their swift response following a robbery on a farm in Mooi River, which resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and recovery of eleven firearms. TMhttps://t.co/Eqt8diiToc pic.twitter.com/Vo5EpJhRSg
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) April 24, 2021
The incident occurred April 23, 2021.
[KZN Provincial commissioner welcomes swift arrest for farm robbery, by Nokwanda Ncwane, thesouthafrican.com, April 24, 2021]
Murphy died of his injuries shortly after being rushed to a hospital. Five suspects, ages 25 and 47, were arrested.
Farm murder:
— WSM (@TheJaundicedEye) April 23, 2021
Trevor Murphy attacked and stabbed at 3.30am (Friday, 3/4/21) on Wendover Farm, Karkloof, Howick and sadly died on way to hospital.
Three armed men got away in Murphy's vehicle:
Look out for a White Ford Ranger twin cab, NR32220. pic.twitter.com/lqJtJYImjm
The crime occurred April 23, 2021.
[Farm murder: Man shot dead on his farm in Kraaifontein, by Natasha Bezuidenhout, The South African, April 30, 2021]
The victims were apparently killed with a blunt object. No motive was determined and they were certified dead at the scene.
A manhunt ensued but yielded no arrests.
Nelspruit double farm murder – Victims identified https://t.co/qBtB58fGi5 via @SATodayNews
— South Africa Today (@SATodayNews) April 26, 2021
The crime occurred April 24, 2021.
[Nelspruit double farm murder – Victims identified, South African Police Service, southafricatoday.net, April 26, 2021]
Reports say the crime’s circumstances are still under investigation and the motive is unknown.
The crime occurred April 29, 2021.
[Farm murder: Man shot dead on his farm in Kraaifontein, by Natasha Bezuidenhout, South African, April 30, 2021]
