Elderly woman gagged and murdered in KZN farm attack

A 70-year-old woman reportedly suffocated to death during a house robbery on Spioenkop Farm in Upper Tongaat last night, North Coast Courier reports.

Umhlali SAPS captain Vinny Pillay said the elderly woman was gagged and left in her bedroom while her husband was tied up in the lounge at around 9pm last night.

The couple was discovered at 5am this morning (Thursday).

“The owner of the house came in at 9pm last night and his wife opened the gate. It was then that three men entered the premises, forced the couple into the house and tied them up. The man had been hit on his head and tied up in the lounge.

“His wife was taken to their bedroom where her hands were tied behind her back and she was gagged.”

Pillay said they suspected the woman died of suffocation as there were no signs of assault.

“This has yet to be medically confirmed,” he said.

Pillay said the men ransacked the house before they fled in the early hours of the morning.

The police have yet to establish what was stolen.

“The husband screamed for help at 5am this morning. A neighbouring farmer heard him and managed to break open the door. He was rushed to hospital.”