On Tuesday (7/4), a farmer (65) was working inside his workshop and noticed a white bakkie driving past his property. Approximately 15 minutes later, the farmer heard several gunshots and observed the same vehicle speeding away from the scene. 

The farmer decided to pursue the vehicle and was able to recognise the driver as his business partner from Bethlehem. During the high-speed chasing, the suspect allegedly used his vehicle to ram the door of the farmer’s bakkie three times, though the farmer fortunately did not sustain any injuries.

The suspects are scheduled to appear before the Senekal Magistrate’s Court. Photo: Freepik

Discovery of property damage and animal cruelty

Upon returning to his farm, the complainant found that his dog had been shot and killed, his tractor tyres had been shot and deflated, and his hay had been set on fire.

Further allegations indicate the suspect had previously sent a threatening WhatsApp to the complainant in November, warning he would kill him following a legal dispute involving sheep that were removed via a court order.

Senekal detectives successfully traced and arrested two suspects, 19 and 56, on Wednesday (8/4).The suspects are scheduled to appear in the Magistrate court in Senekal on Monday (13/4) to face charges of attempted murder, malicious damage to property and animal cruelty.

Two arrested for housebreaking in Welkom

In a separate incident, two men, 27 and 28, have been arrested for the possession of suspected stolen property following case of housebreaking and theft in Welkom.

On Tuesday (7/4), members of the Welkom public order police received information regarding the location of stolen goods. It led officers to a house in the St Helena suburb that was allegedly being used to hide the items.

Upon arrival, officers met a man (28) who identified himself as the owner of the house and granted the officers permission to conduct a search. Police discovered a black Hisense plasma television, a PlayStation gaming console and a blue Raleigh mountain bike.

The owner of the house was unable to provide a reasonable explanation for having these items in his possession and the recovered goods matched the descriptions of property reported stolen in the earlier housebreaking case. The man was immediately arrested at the scene.

As the members were processing the first suspect, they received additional information about a second individual carrying a bicycle toward a second-hand goods dealer.

Police spotted and intercepted a 27-year-old who was carrying a black and lime bicycle that had also been reported stolen during the same incident.

All the confiscated property was booked in as evidence for the upcoming trial. The two suspects are expected to appear in the Magistrate court in Welkom on Thursday (9/4), to face charges of possession of suspected stolen property.

OFM News

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427