A farmer, who requested to remain anonymous, told OFM News it was scary stuff as the farmers who responded to the incident, armed only with pistols, came under fire from suspects wielding heavy calibre automatic rifles. He says one of the men tried to escape arrest by burying himself in a field but was later flushed out when a farmer started searching with a tractor.

North West Police have meanwhile confirmed the arrest of the six suspects. Police spokesperson, Paul Ramoloko, says they allegedly tried to hijack and rob a local farmer near Schweizer Reneke of an undisclosed number of diamonds.

He says police confiscated two AK47s and a handgun from the would-be robbers, as well as all of the diamonds.

There was even more room for celebration as the farm where the suspects were apprehended received 100mm of rain while the whole incident was unfolding. The area has also been hard hit by the drought.

Dane Beisheim and Sabrina Dean/OFM News