“I am grateful to my Creator that none of my grandchildren, who were playing directly in line with the gunshots during the incident, were injured.” (Photo: Jaco de Villiers/Facebook)
Jaco de Villiers (65), a farmer from Senekal in the Free State, was injured on Tuesday during a violent attack on his farm, while his grandchildren unsuspectingly played in the line of fire.
According to De Villiers, the motive for the attack is still unknown. “The legal process is respected and I will wait to see what comes to light during court proceedings.”
De Villiers says he is especially grateful that his grandchildren were unharmed.
“I am grateful to my Creator that none of my grandchildren, who were playing directly in line with the gunshots during the incident, were injured.”
However, De Villiers suffered injuries himself, contrary to the police’s initial version of events. “I did suffer injuries, and that while I was recovering from a hip operation.”
De Villiers’s cup of coffee. (Photo: Jaco de Villiers/Facebook)
He is currently undergoing a medical examination to document his injuries, which will be used as part of the court proceedings.
Two suspects, respectively 19 and 56 years old, were arrested after the incident. The police arrested them on a smallholding in Bethlehem and confiscated four firearms.
According to Sgt. Mmako Mophiring, police spokesperson, De Villiers was in his workshop when he saw a white bakkie drive past his farm. About 15 minutes later, he heard gunshots and spotted the same vehicle again before it sped away from the scene.
Hay set on fire. (Photo: Jaco de Villiers/Facebook)
De Villiers then chased the bakkie.
“During the chase, the suspect crashed into the door of De Villiers’ bakkie three times,” said Adele le Roux, De Villiers’ lawyer.
On his return to the farm, De Villiers discovered that his pit bull had been shot dead, tractor tires had been damaged and hay had been set on fire.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Senekal Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of attempted murder, malicious damage to property and animal cruelty.