Cops mum on free farmer
2003-06-02 20:43
Durban - KwaZulu-Natal police failed to explain on Monday why farmer Theodore Landman, accused of unleashing a reign of terror on black people on his farm in Utrecht since 1995, has not been arrested and prosecuted.
Landman allegedly assaulted and maimed scores of black farmworkers without any legal action taken against him despite farmworkers' incessant complaints.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Moses Khanyile has since taken over the investigation himself, the Sowetan reported on Monday.
The newspaper said Khanyile would look into the death of Mgodi Nkosi, 33, and Sam Ndlovu, 36. The two are relatives, and died after Landman allegedly assaulted them.
Philemon Nkosi, 62, was quoted in the newspaper saying his leg was broken, and he never recovered fully after Landman assaulted him. Nkosi now walks with a limp.
The paper said Zama Nkosi, 5, miraculously survived when Landman tried to run over her in his 4X4 vehicle. She fell off the side of the road, and was narrowly missed.
Landman's case, and 19 others, were reported at the Utrecht police station, but were never followed up. It is unclear why the police have not taken action against Landman.
Utrecht police station commander Captain Sarel du Plessis said he would not respond to questions unless they were faxed to him in writing.
Sapa sent Du Plessis a list of questions at 12.40pm on Monday, and he promised to respond before the close of day. At 2pm, Du Plessis said he was drafting a response.
However, at 16:00 on Monday, his staff said Du Plessis had gone home already.
19 cases dropped
Inspector Anton Snyman, a spokesperson for the Utrecht police station, said Du Plessis told him the list of questions was sent to provincial police spokesperson Superintendent Vish Naidoo.
Snyman said: "Du Plessis told me that he sent the questions to (Director) Naidoo in Durban. I don't know, but he (Du Plessis) said he sent your list to Durban."
Naidoo said Du Plessis did not tell him he had sent him a list of questions from Sapa about the allegations against Landman. Naidoo said: "No, they just can't operate like that."
Last Friday, Landman and his son Jacobus, 28, appeared on two counts of murder, and attempted murder. Their case was postponed to Friday.
It is unclear what happened to the 19 other cases, and why did Landman and his son appear in court only on Friday when the cases against him were reported as far back as 1995.
Jacobus Landman runs the Vienhook farm at Utrecht while his father rented several farms in the area, about 43km from Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The Independent Complaints Directorate was investigating why it took the police so long to bring Landman to court. ICD spokesman Steve Mabona said: "I will only be able to respond tomorrow (Tuesday)."
- SAPA