Four people were arrested regarding the murder of well-known farmer Theo Bekker.
Bekker (79) and his wife, Marlinda, were attacked on their farm in the Grootvlei Balfour district on July 30 between 07:00 and 09:00.
According to reports, the attackers pounced while Bekker was outside and forced him back inside the house.
He was assaulted and hit over the head with a heavy object, causing fatal injuries.
They also assaulted Marlinda, and she sustained severe injuries.
The intruders searched the home and fled with firearms and money in one of the couple’s vehicles.
Marlinda reached a neighbour’s home for help, and the relevant law enforcement agencies were dispatched.
Marlinda was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
Law enforcement initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, who had an accident in the Villiers area while fleeing.
They tried to evade capture, but authorities tracked them down.
Law enforcement recovered the stolen firearms at the accident scene and arrested four suspects less than two hours after the attack.
Two suspects were workers on the farm. The suspects are between 16 and 19 years of age.
The provincial commissioner for the Mpumalanga SAPS, Lieutenant-General Semakeleng Daphney Manamela, condemned the attack.
Manamela said, “The positive contribution from the community assisted us in arresting the suspects. The help will surely not go unnoticed.”
The suspects will soon appear in the Villiers Magistrate’s Court on various charges, including possession of stolen firearms and vehicle theft.
After the court appearances, the suspects will be transferred to the Balfour court to face charges of robbery, murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
