Farmer critically wounded, woman killed in separate North West farm attacks - TimesLIVE

A cattle farmer is fighting for his life in hospital after a brutal attack on his farm between Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp.

This is the second farm attack in the North West this month, coming after 55-year-old Hannetjie van Zyl was killed in an attack on her property near Ottosdal.

Donovan Marx was shot, beaten and stabbed during a farm attack on Wednesday morning, shortly after his wife left for work.

Marx was shot in the back and tortured. The FF+ said the details of the alleged torture were too disturbing to make public.

Ventersdorp police confirmed they are investigating a case of house robbery and attempted murder.

According to police, at about 8.30am, a farm employee mowing the lawn was approached by three unknown men who allegedly emerged from behind the house. The suspects, whose faces were covered with balaclavas, carried firearms.

The suspects allegedly pointed their firearms at the employee and demanded to know the whereabouts of the farm owner. They then tied the employee’s hands and feet with cable ties and took him to the back of the house.

Police spokesperson Capt Majang Skalkie said the situation escalated when the 50-year-old farm owner arrived at the property in a bakkie.

Two of the suspects allegedly approached him and shot him in the upper body.

“They subsequently dragged him inside the house, tied his hands and feet with cable ties, and allegedly stabbed and further assaulted him. The suspects proceeded to search the house and took three firearms from a safe before fleeing the scene in the farmer’s red Isuzu bakkie,” Skalkie said.

The farm worker managed to free himself and called for assistance, and the farmer was transported to a local hospital and admitted in a serious condition.

Skalkie said no arrests have been made and police are working to trace the suspects.

North West police commissioner Lt-Gen Arthur Peter Adams condemned the violent attack and called on members of the community to assist the police in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“The use of firearms and the brutal assault of an individual in the course of a robbery are serious criminal acts that will not be tolerated,” he said.

The FF+ expressed its condolences and offered prayers for Marx and his family as he continues to fight for his life.

Van Zyl died on October 5 after being assaulted with an iron bar at the entrance gate to her farmhouse in the Ottosdal/Wolmaransstad area.

According to the DA in the North West, Van Zyl was attacked from behind and struck several times on the head and neck before her handbag and cellphone were stolen. She was getting back into her vehicle after opening the gate when the attack occurred.

She died on the way to hospital in Klerksdorp.

The DA’s Theo Venter said the attacks highlight the serious safety challenges facing rural communities.

“Farm attacks, stock theft and other rural crimes threaten the lives and livelihoods of farmers, farmworkers and their families, while undermining agricultural activity and the jobs it sustains.

“Rural communities deserve more than assurances. They deserve effective policing, accountability and the peace of mind that comes with knowing their safety is taken seriously,” Venter said.