Man shot and arrested following farm murder in Lydenburg

A man suspected of a farm murder in Lydenburg has been arrested in Springvalley yesterday.

The suspect was shot during an altercation with police. Members of the Lydenburg K9 Unit were following up on the leads when they saw the bakkie belonging to the murdered farmer from Lydenburg driving past them on January 16.

They turned around and followed the bakkie. When the suspects got suspicious, they stopped the bakkie, and fled.

The police chased after them and during the search one of the suspects tried to overpower one of the police members and took her firearm.

During the struggle, the firearm fell, and the suspect made a dash for it and grabbed it. He was allegedly shot after he tried to grab the firearm again.

According to police, a 9mm pistol with ammunition was found in the possession of the suspect.

This bakkie and firearm belonged to  Johan Nortje (66) who was fatally wounded on January 15.

Nortje and his wife, Susan, were on the farm when he was overpowered by two robbers. He was shot.

The robbers went into the farmhouse and allegedly tied up Susan and assaulted her.

Police reports indicated that the robbers fled with firearms, cellphones, and the white bakkie.

A lookout for the bakkie was circulated and information led police to Springvalley.

“The suspect’s condition is critical, and he is currently being treated at Witbank Hospital,” Captain Eddie Hall, police spokesperson, confirmed.

Residents in Springvalley also pointed police to another vehicle the suspect was driving around with in Springvalley.

Police confiscated the vehicle, and it was discovered that the vehicle was positively connected to a house robbery in Lydenburg in August last year.

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