Alleged vigilantism has landed four farmers in hot water after they were arrested for the murder of two men, one of whom is believed to have been involved in a farm attack.
In a statement, Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi on Sunday said that a farmer at Bies Build Farm in Parys alleged that while he was feeding his dogs, was confronted by a male with a firearm demanding R20,000 from a safe.
“The complainant was beaten on the forehead and on the right hand with the firearm butt. The complainant managed to push the suspect and ran inside the house where he managed to press the panic button and it is alleged that the suspect run away.”
On the same day, Mulaudzi said that farmers gathered and traced the suspect in the farm attack.
“They then met with two males Samuel Tjexa, 35 and Seun Tangasha [believed to be] 28 or 29 years old at about 8km away from the mentioned farm and confronted them. The two males were badly assaulted by the farmers who confronted them.”
Mulaudzi said police officials arrived at the scene where Tjexa and Tangasha were assaulted by the farmers and called on an ambulance.
“Samuel Tjexa was admitted at Parys Provincial Hospital and Seun Tangasha [to] Pelonomi Hospital...”
Tangasha was declared dead on arrival while Tjexa passed away later, Mulaudzi said.
Hawks official Major SS Mahlatsi arrested Johan Cilliers, 26, Anton Loggeburg, 49, Mocke Cilliers, 61 and Gert van der Westhuizen, 46, a day after the crime on Thursday.
The men appeared at the Parys Magistrate's Court on Friday. Their case was postponed to Tuesday for a formal bail application.
Source: News24
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