Police in the Free State have launched a manhunt after an elderly couple were assaulted and robbed on Tuesday.
The Loots, a couple from the Sasolburg were assaulted and severely assaulted at their house on Tuesday night.
It is alleged that the attacker, Themba Khumalo (27), is a worker at their family business, Loots Transport.
In an interview with Sedibeng Ster Hannes jnr. (29-year-old grandson) said the whole event lasted about half an hour.
Half an hour of hell for Rina (73) and Hannes (72)!
Well-known local businessman Hannes Loots (72) after the attack.
The Loots arrived at the house just before 18:00. Unsuspectingly, they turned off the alarm and started carrying home shopping when the attacker, armed with a braai fork, stormed onto them. He immediately resorted to violence and Rina was stabbed in the hand with the frying fork while she tried to stop.
The attack was violent and Rina was dragged by her hair, strangled and kicked. The attacker was wearing shoes with steel points “safety boots”. Hannes, who intervened to try to protect his wife, was also severely assaulted and kicked. However, while lying on the ground, he managed to rip the attacker’s legs out from under him, after which the attacker fled. The attacker got away with Hannes’ cellphone and a large amount of money (apparently R70 000) that Hannes received from a client during the course of the day.
According to Hannes jnr. the emergency services personnel arrived quickly on the scene and very professional. However, his grandparents had to wait almost 45 minutes to an hour in the ambulance until the police finally arrived on the scene. They were then taken to the Midvaal Private Hospital in Vereeniging where both were admitted to the intensive care unit. They have since been transferred to a regular ward.
Hannes jnr. further said that the attacker’s father is also a long-time worker at Loots transport.
“The father told us this morning that his son would not be at work. He apparently stabbed his own brother with a knife the night before. The poor father was so shocked to hear of the attack by his son on my grandparents that I had to send him home to overcome the shock.” tells Hannes jnr.
The suspect has not yet been arrested. It is requested that anyone with information hack. Contact Jan Opperman on 084 409 7003.
