Police spokesperson, Ian Gaobepe, says four young men, allegedly involved in the robbery at Leon Venter’s farm on May 12, were apprehended last Thursday in Bultfontein's Phahameng township. Three firearms stolen from Venter’s farmhouse were recovered. Stolen vintage coins, a camera and a watch were also confiscated.

A fifth suspect, who was implicated during the four suspects’ police interrogation, was arrested at a house in Phahameng last Friday. He was in possession of Venter’s Toyota bakkie’s keys. The bakkie was reported missing after the robbery but was later found abandoned on a local gravel road.

Gaobepe says it is still not clear if the suspects are linked to a farm attack in Hertzogville that took place the same day. They are expected to appear in the Bultfontein Magistrate's Court on June 1. Mahlomola Chaka (22), Themba Mentjies (24), Tete Moshane (24), Pogisho Mokale (26), and Tshepiso Ntsane (26) face charges of, among others, the possession of stolen firearms.

Gaobepe told OFM News earlier that Venter (63) and his wife were attending a church service when the burglary occurred. The couple returned later the same night and saw their house was broken into. The garage’s door was open. They also discovered that their safe was opened and three firearms (a .44 rifle, 30-06 rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun) were missing.

Meanwhile, no arrests have yet been made after the attack on the elderly couple on their farm near Hertzogville. Gideon Botha (78) and his wife Petronella returned from town also on May 12 when three suspects approached him at his cattle enclosure on the farm. Botha was tied up. His wife, who later came looking for her husband, was also tied up. The couple was forced into their home. Gaobepe says Botha was beaten when he refused to open the safe in the house. The robbers managed to find a grinder and opened the safe.

The suspects later fled with an undisclosed amount of money and a 9mm pistol. Botha sustained minor injuries to the face and right arm.

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