[WATCH] Hundreds rally as Dendron farm attack suspects appear

POLOKWANE – The two suspects who have been charged with the attack on an elderly couple on a farm in Dendron on Wednesday, 5 August are appearing in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today.

The suspects, ages 29 and 38,were arrested hours after the attack and face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and possession of stolen property. On Friday, 7 August they appeared in the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court on separate charges of house robbery and rape and were denied bail. Their case was postponed to 14 August.

https://www.citizen.co.za/review-online/438391/bylsteel-farm-attack-2-denied-bail-3rd-suspect-dies/

During their first court appearance people from as far afield as Hoedspruit and Tzaneen rallied together in front of the court in a peaceful protest against farm attacks and murders in South Africa.

Today residents from across the province gathered at four of the entrances into the city and made their way to court in a convoy of vehicles, trucks and tractors.

The elderly couple was attacked in their home at around 01:00 on Wednesday. The woman was reportedly raped and her husband severely assaulted. She was also shot in the leg during the incident. A 96-year-old woman who was also in the house didn’t sustain any physical injuries. Three suspects were arrested on the R101 on Wednesday during a joint police operation hours after the attack.

According to earlier reports the members from the Highway Patrol Unit spotted the suspects on the Matala road. “When they attempted to stop the vehicle they sped off, resulting in a car chase until they were cornered on the R101 south of Polokwane,” said Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlefela Mojapelo.

During the incident two of the suspects were arrested and and a third, who shot at officers, was shot and injured and was taken to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. A fourth suspect has since been arrested and will join the other suspects in the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of conspiracy to commit, house robbery, murder,  possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and possession of stolen property. Mojapleo added that: “It is believed he was possibly involved in planning the attack.”