Police arrested 13 suspects within hours of a farm attack in Heilbron, Free State, that left a 45-year-old farm worker dead and his wife sexually assaulted.
Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images
- A farm worker was killed and his wife sexually assaulted during a farm attack in Heilbron, Free State.
- Police arrested 13 people within hours, using emergency response protocols and community cooperation.
- Stolen sheep, a firearm, a minibus and household items were recovered after a two-hour search operation.
A farm worker was killed and his wife sexually assaulted in a farm attack in Heilbron, Free State, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The 45-year-old farm worker was shot dead, while his 34-year-old wife was stabbed and later taken to a local hospital.
Police spokesperson Captain Loraine Earle said the province had implemented its emergency response protocols upon notification of the crime.
“When we have an incident like this, we have a 48-hour activation plan, which means all resources that we have are dedicated to that incident, and that’s what led to the arrest of the 13 people,” she said.
Working closely with the farming community, private security partners, and other stakeholders, the police successfully traced and arrested 13 people within hours, comprising two women and 11 men.
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After an intensive search, law enforcement found them in possession of 22 suspected stolen sheep, a firearm, a minibus, and household items.
Earle indicated that such incidents were uncommon in the province.
“They are currently busy following up the leads and what the actual modus operandi was, and what the motive was, but for now it looks like robbery,” Earle said.
The acting provincial police commissioner, Major-General Solly Lesia, expressed his appreciation to all parties involved, praising their “dedication, cooperation and commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators were swiftly brought to justice”.
“This rapid response and the successful arrest of the suspects demonstrate what can be achieved when the police and the community work together,” said Lesia.
“We will continue to act decisively against any form of violent crime.”
Those arrested are expected to appear in the Heilbron Magistrate’s Court soon on charges including murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery and stock theft.
To protect the identity of the sexual assault survivor, Earle said they were unable to release the identities of those arrested.
