Two of the four suspects arrested in connection with the murder of 81-year-old Kuruman farmer Hendrik Venter have been released.
TWO OF the four suspects arrested in connection with the murder of 81-year-old Kuruman farmer Hendrik Venter have been released.
The suspects, aged between 18 and 26, were apprehended near Hotazel following the incident on September 27. Venter had left his farm, situated between Kuruman and Hotazel, at around 8.30am that morning to visit his cattle posts. His body was later discovered at the gate of a neighbouring farm next to his vehicle, with head injuries. It is alleged that an undisclosed amount of money was stolen from him.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers confirmed that two of the suspects, aged 18 and 20, have been released.
“The suspects appeared in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on September 30. The other accused – Orabile Vincent Motsewakgosi, 24, and Kabelo Tata, 26, will remain in custody until their formal bail application on October 4,” Ehlers stated.
The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole, expressed profound sadness over the brutal killing and condemned the “horrific act”.
“This devastating incident has left the farming community and the Province in shock, once again highlighting the vulnerability of our rural communities. The killing of farmers, especially those who have devoted their lives to the land and food security, strikes at the heart of society. The ongoing violence against our farmers is unacceptable and must be met with the strongest action from all sectors of society,” Manopole said.
She commended the police for their swift action in apprehending the suspects and extended her condolences to Venter’s family, friends, and the community. “We mourn with you and pledge to continue working towards a safer, more secure rural environment for all,” the MEC added.
FF+ provincial leader Dr Wynand Boshoff said that Venter’s death had sent shock waves throughout the Northern Cape.
“The fact that Venter had gone to pay wages to his workers, where the money was reported as missing, points to a robbery. A defenceless and elderly farmer’s life was taken in a senseless manner,” Boshoff stated.
He emphasised that farmers were increasingly becoming soft targets for criminals. “Drastic steps must be taken to ensure their safety,” Boshoff added.
DA members of Parliament Willie Aucamp and Lisa Schickerling echoed these concerns and called for the urgent establishment of sufficient rural safety units across the country.
They highlighted the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in ensuring rural safety and preventing stock theft, as demonstrated by the joint efforts of the SAPS, private and civic organisations, and individuals who assisted in the arrests of the suspects.
“In 2011/12, there were 52,054 SAPS reservists across the country. By November 2023 this had declined by 63 percent to just 4,393, which has left a dangerous vacuum in rural policing that must be addressed urgently,” they pointed out.
