Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Unsplash
A particularly brutal farm attack in the North West province has prompted an angry response from some politicians in the region, after a married couple were subjected to ‘hours of torture’ at the hands of their assailants.
Chris and Hesta Barnard, who own farmland in the small town of Koster, were targeted by three thugs who gained access to the property. The details of this latest farm attack are particular barbaric:
FARM ATTACK!!
— lydia van der merwe (@DerLydia) September 9, 2021
Chris and Hesta Barnard attacked last night on their farm at Koster, both were tortured for hours with rods, whips and hot irons. They are both in hospital. Lots of household goods stolen from them and still no arrests ????????????????
The horrendous incident has just about boiled the blood of the DA’s North West Provincial Leader, Leon Basson. He slammed the ‘hate-fuelled criminals’ who targeted the innocent pair, and expressed his fears about the impact these farm attacks will eventually have on the national food supply.
On Friday, Basson demanded that Police Minister Bheki Cele ‘should act with more urgency’ to fight rural crime:
“This kind of torture speaks of not only brutal criminality but also hatred towards people who live in rural areas. They dedicate their sweat, blood, and tears, under harsh conditions to put food on the tables of all South Africans. With each farm attack, there are fewer farmers willing to invest in working the land or producing food.”
“SAPS must make all resources available to ensure the arrest and successful prosecution of these hate-fuelled criminals. Unfortunately, Police Minister Bheki Cele and the entire national government continue to sit idly by while residents in rural communities are subjected to the most despicable brutality.”