Police spokesperson, Livhuhani Hani, says the suspects were arrested at their respective homes in Vereeniging last night. 

This comes after 52-year-old Frederick Barnard died in a Sasolburg hospital two days after he and his fiancé and another couple were assaulted and hacked with a sharp object while fishing next to the Vaal River opposite the Vaal Race Course on September 10. 

According to Hani, the couples were overpowered by three men wearing balaclavas. She says Barnard’s fiancé managed to rush the three unconscious victims to the Fezi Ngubentombi Hospital after their attackers fled the scene, allegedly on foot with some of the victims’ personal belongings. 

Hani says the suspects, aged between 19 and 39, were arrested at an informal settlement near the FW De Klerk Bridge in Vereeniging at about 20:00. 

Some of the victims’ alleged belongings were found in the suspects’ possession. Hani did not provide a complete description of the type of belongings confiscated by police as it is evidence. She did, however, confirm that more items, such as identity documents of other people who are not linked to the Viljoensdrift incident, were confiscated. 

This could assist police to solve more robbery cases that took place next to the Vaal River recently. 

The three suspects are expected to appear at the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on charges of murder and robbery. 

OFM News previously reported that the couple who were with Barnard and his fiancé were later transferred to a private hospital in Alberton, Gauteng. The woman has since been discharged.

Barnard was transferred from the Fezi Ngubentombi Hospital to the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein shortly after the attack. He was, however, transferred back to Fezi Ngubentombi where he died on September 12. 

Hani says the arrest is a clear example of police’s dedication to combat crime. Station Commander of Viljoensdrif, Susan Landman, and her dedicated team of detectives worked tirelessly and followed up on leads.

OFM News