Cattle farmer stabbed and pistol whipped in Vryheid armed robbery, manhunt ensues
The attackers bound their victims with ropes, assaulted them with the butts of their guns and demanded cash and firearms.
A massive manhunt was launched in the Vryheid district and surrounding area yesterday after a cattle farmer in Gluckstadt was stabbed and his frail father injured during a farm attack at Uitzicht Farm.
Dirk de Vaal and his father were assisting customers with a cattle purchase at about 3pm yesterday, when four unknown men arrived in a white Toyota Hilux with MP registration plates.
At first the men pretended that they were also interested in buying cattle. As soon as the customers who was being assisted left, however, the four men drew firearms, ordering Dirk, his father and their farm workers to lie on the ground.
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SAPS communications officer for the Zululand Cluster, Captain Nkosie Gwala, said the attackers bound their victims with ropes, assaulted them with the butts of their guns and demanded cash and firearms.
The attackers led Dirk and his father to the De Vaal’s farm house where they stole cash, cellphones, a rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition.
During the ordeal, Dirk was stabbed in the back and his face was badly injured. Dirk’s father was lucky to have only suffered minor injuries. Both father and son were treated for their injuries in hospital and have since been discharged.
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A search for the attackers took place on land and by air and various community crime fighters from AfriForum, Vryheid Neighbourhood Watch, Kambula Farmers’ Association, LMS brokers, Melmoth traffic department, Ulundi traffic department and the Mthonjaneni Farmers’ Association assisted Vryheid SAPS with manpower and resources.
The attackers, however, were still at large at the time of publishing.
