Eastern Cape farmer killed‚ wife beaten by men posing as cattle buyers

Five men are on the run after killing a 74-year-old farmer and assaulting his wife in a robbery at a farm in the Eastern Cape.

The men approached a farm worker at Rustig farm‚ about 8km outside the town of Maclear‚ and said that they wanted to buy some cattle at 6pm on Wednesday.

“The farm worker referred them to the owner‚ 74-year-old Mr Louis Van den Berg‚ who showed them to the gate of the farm‚” said police spokesman Captain Ursula Reclose.

“After a while‚ the farm worker heard screams and went to investigate. The suspects chased him and took him to the farmhouse‚ where they demanded the keys to the safe. After a struggle‚ which left Mrs Van den Berg injured‚ they got access to the safe and took several firearms and fled on foot after they tied up the worker and Mrs Van den Berg.”

The worker managed to untie himself and contacted family members for help.

The farm owner’s body was found at a gate. He had been assaulted and fatally stabbed. His wife was taken to hospital.

Police asked anyone with information about the suspects to contact the investigating officer‚ Captain Nkampini‚ on 071 481 2686 or their nearest police station.