Kuruman farmer brutally beaten
2012-06-24 20:14
Johannesburg - A Northern Cape man has been attacked on a farm near Kuruman, police said on Sunday.
"It is believed that three unidentified men gained entry and brutally beat the elderly man," said Captain Cherelle Ehlers.
They fled in Joseph van Heerden's white Toyota Hilux bakkie.
"He is being treated in hospital and is in a serious but stable condition," she said, but added that he could not tell the police exactly what had happened because of his injuries.
He was alone at the time of the attack on Saturday night.
The attack was the latest in a series of farm attacks reported since the beginning of June.
A 57-year-old farmer was robbed of an undisclosed amount of money at his farm in Lichtenburg, North West on 8 June and an elderly couple was attacked n their farm near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal on 11 June.
An elderly farmer was shot dead, and his wife was wounded when they were attacked on their farm in Tolwe, Limpopo, on 20 June.
The attacks and the murder have been condemned by human rights groups and political parties.
Agricultural union TAU-SA has proposed that farm attacks be regarded as priority crimes.
The Christian Democratic Party has appealed to the government to react strongly to attacks on farmers.
AfriForum deputy CEO Ernst Roets said the civil rights group had submitted a memorandum to Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa asking for the establishment of a special rural safety unit.
- SAPA
