This is according to Free State Agriculture's Tommie Esterhuyse, who says they have recorded 37 attacks and five murders in the province this year.

OFM News earlier broke the news that an elderly couple and their daughter were robbed by six suspects in their farmhouse near Bothaville, while another farmer in Smithfield was able to foil an attack by four suspects wearing balaclavas.

Esterhuyse says, fortunately, there were no serious injuries in either of the attacks. He says what is very positive is the preparedness of farmers and the speed at which the rural safety plans were activated.

“What’s reassuring is the preparedness of the farmers. Emergency plans were activated in both incidents. The farmers reacted very well.

“I know at present they are still looking for the suspects. In the case of Smithfield, they have cordoned off the area and called on additional police to come in to help make arrests.”

Separate manhunts have been launched for the ten suspects.

Attacks in the early hours

In the first attack in Bothaville in the Vierfontein area, 87-year-old farmer, Frikkie van der Merwe, and his 85-year-old wife and 57-year-old daughter were tied up and robbed in their farmhouse this morning.

Free State police spokesperson, Ian Gaobepe, says six robbers gained entrance to the house just after midnight and tied the victims up with duct tape.

The safe was opened and the robbers took a firearm and an undisclosed amount of money. Two cell phones and a wedding ring were also stolen.

The robbers fled the scene in the victim's silver Volkswagen Tiguan. The family did not sustain serious injuries.

Bothaville Agricultural Union's safety coordinator, Johan du Plessis, says Van der Merwe managed to loosen himself and alerted farmers on a two-way radio system.

Meanwhile, Smithfield farmer Piet Swanepoel encountered four suspects outside his farmhouse at about 05:00.

He had gone outside to investigate after his dogs started barking at 03:00. Swanepoel screamed at the men and fired a warning shot.

The suspects fled on foot.

A firearm believed to have been left behind by the suspects was later found and has since been confiscated by police.

Christal-Lize Muller and Sabrina Dean/OFM News