POTCHEFSTROOM – The police in Wolmaransstad arrested two suspects for house robbery that occurred on a farm situated on the borders of Wolmaransstad and Schweizer-Reneke.
It is alleged that on Sunday, 23 February 2020 at about 14:00, two suspects attacked a 60-year-old farmworker with a wheel spanner outside the farmhouse and tied him up after the assault. Thereafter the suspects proceeded to the farmhouse where they found a 92-year-old farm owner and demanded money and firearms. The owner was also tied up, while the house was ransacked. Meanwhile, the farmworker managed to untie himself and rushed to a neighbouring farm to seek help.
A look-out was given to all farmers in the area and both suspects were traced and caught about 6 km from the crime scene near Glaudina, in the area of Schweizer-Reneke. The suspects were found in possession of a shotgun, meat, cellular phone, luggage bag as well as an undisclosed amount of cash, believed to be taken during the house robbery on the farm. Moreover, it was discovered that the two suspects, were allegedly in the vicinity of the farm since early in the morning, pretending to be asking for water.
The two suspects, aged 19 and 26 were arrested and detained. They will be charged with house robbery, possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of suspected stolen property.
They are expected to appear before the Wolmaransstad Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 February 2020.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded members of the Farm Watch for their vigilance and determination in assisting the police to fight crime in the farming community. He urged members of the community to continue reporting illegal activities and said the police will not hesitate to act in ensuring that perpetrators are brought to book.