Four robbers dressed as cops torture Limpopo farmer in horrific attack | News24
Cops are on the hunt for four suspects who dressed as police officers and horrifically tortured a farmer during a robbery.
In a statement, the Limpopo South African Police Service (SAPS) said the group of robbers had struck after lying in wait for the farmer at his home in Morebeng, Capricorn, on Thursday afternoon.
The robbers, who were dressed in police uniforms and reflective jackets and had their faces covered, had allegedly been on the premises for three hours before the farmer and two farmworkers came home.
One of the robbers approached and asked where the employer was, a police spokesperson said.
“The [farmer] became suspicious and attempted to flee, but one of the suspects allegedly threatened him with a firearm.”
He was allegedly tied up and had a gun pointed at him as the robbers demanded access to his safe. When he said he didn’t have one, he was assaulted.
The robbers eventually found the safe and allegedly stole five rifles, one pistol, ammunition, an undisclosed amount of cash, a bank card and four cellphones.
DA Limpopo provincial leader Jacques Smalle urged police to urgently track down and catch those responsible for the “brutal and heinous” attack, which he said was a “chilling reminder of the vulnerability of those who live and work” in rural communities.
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“[It] underscores the urgent need for farm attacks, farm murders and stock theft to receive priority attention, backed by properly resourced rural safety capacity, effective crime intelligence and stronger cooperation between SAPS, farming communities, farm watches and other rural safety structures,” he said.
Smalle said that farmers, farmworkers and rural communities were entitled to the same protection from violent crime as every other South African. He added that they were left isolated and vulnerable “while criminals operate with impunity”.
“Rural safety is also fundamental to the livelihoods, jobs and food security that agriculture sustains…We must restore safety and security to Limpopo’s farming and rural communities,” he said.
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