Stock thieves shot the owner of livestock grazing in the East Driefontein area when he went to investigate the theft of some of his animals on Tuesday, 14 May.
The victim received a phone call from his shepherd around midnight, informing him that a group of men were stealing his goats from his kraal behind the Ekuthuleni Hostel at East Driefontein No. 4 Shaft.
The owner, who lives in the hostel, immediately went to investigate. He had just arrived at the kraal when he saw ten men wearing blankets. Without warning, they started shooting at him.
The owner returned fire to try and scare the attackers off, but they continued to shoot at him.
He realised they had overpowered him and fled to the hostel. Only when he arrived at his destination did he realise they had shot him in both legs.
An ambulance rushed him to Lenmed Hospital for further treatment.
The owner later determined that the thieves had stolen 81 of his goats, valued at over R200,000.
