Farm Attack Latest: 78-year-old farmer who killed suspect, unharmed

A 78 year old farmer who shot and killed his assailant and during a farm attack on Wednesday was unharmed during the incident the police have confirmed.

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the farmer had been outside on his farm working on a vehicle when he was accosted by armed men. 

“It is alleged that this morning a 78-year-old male was at his farm in Bishopstowe fixing his vehicle when he was accosted by two males armed with a knife.”

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele

 The victim opened fire, fatally wounding one suspect and one managed to escape unharmed. Charges of attempted robbery and an inquest was opened at Bishopstowe for investigation,” Mbele said.

Initial reports from Bishopstowe had indicated that the second suspect had also been shot and was injured but managed to flee the scene.  A manhunt has been launched for the second farm attack suspect.

However, a farmer in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said no traces of blood from the second suspect had been found at the scene of the farm attack to indicate this. He said he had been alerted to the farm attack at around 9.30am.

“He was in his yard just outside his workshop and they came and attacked hm, armed with a knife and a hammer. They pushed him onto the floor and he had his revolver with him and shot one of them fatally,” he said.

He said the latest attack was the second time in three weeks that the farmer and his wife had been attacked on the property.

“We are not sure if it is the same guys,” he said.

This latest farm attack comes after the Bishopstowe farming community was rocked by the triple murder of Daniel Debruin, 58, his wife Glynis Debruin, 60, and Collin Debruin, 84 on 14 December 2020.

He echoed the complaint of a local security cell leader who raised concern that the Bishopstowe police station was under resourced with only one police van and unable to adequately police the area.

He said an efficient security firm had taken over patrolling the Ashburton area and criminals were now shifting their focus for easier targets in Bishopstowe.

“We have a lot of housebreakings. The other day they got into a house after 8am and stole TVs and motorbikes,” he said.