Farmer 'needs guns for safety'

2006-08-16 23:15

Marietie Louw

Northam - Farmer Johan Pretorius, 43, fears that he and his family have become easy targets for farm attackers after police confiscated all his firearms on Wednesday.

Pretorius was arrested last month because he had reportedly fired at a man on his farm Kromdraai in this district of Limpopo. He appeared briefly in the Northam magistrate's court last month and was released on R1 000 bail.

During his appearance on Wednesday the police said they were going to confiscate his four firearms, including hunting guns, to do ballistic tests.

"I'm furious. Thirteen people have made statements that we were not on the farm at the time of the incident. Now they're taking my firearms in any case," Pretorius said.

Garlic farmer Pretorius's wife Ronel was very upset because she was often alone on the farm.

"Now I don't even have a firearm to protect myself."

A worker from a neighbouring farm claimed that Pretorius fired at him on June 24. The alleged shooting took place at about 18:00.

Pretorius maintained that on the day concerned, he had been with his sister Wilna du Preez for a family gathering. Their farm is about 80km from Pretorius's farm. "We only arrived home that night at about 22:00," Pretorius said.

Another farmer, Jan Engelbrecht, was also accused of being involved in the incident. He had been on a hunting trip in Hoedspruit and gave the police proof of his accommodation. He was not prosecuted.

Pretorius's wife said on Wednesday that police had not even found a cartridge shell from the alleged shooting incident. "But they're taking our guns in any case."

- Beeld