Three arrested for Vaal River attack

Viljoensdrif Police arrested three suspects on Tuesday, 20 September in connection with the murder of Frederick Barnard after finding items belonging to the victim in their possession. The murder occurred on the banks of the Vaal River on 10 September.

It is alleged that Barnard was fishing on the banks of the Vaal River near the Vaal Racecourse with his fiancée and another couple who reside in Krugersdorp, when they were approached by three males wearing balaclavas. Both couples were overpowered by the men and brutally assaulted. They were also hacked with sharp objects and three of them were left unconscious.

Barnard’s fiancée, the only conscious victim, allegedly loaded her unconscious companions into a vehicle and rushed them to the Fezi Ngubentombi Hospital.

Barnard died in hospital later that day.

Captain Susan Landman, the Viljoensdrif station commander, and her dedicated team of detectives worked tirelessly to follow up on leads until they traced the three suspects.

The suspects were arrested at an informal settlement near the FW de Klerk Bridge in Vereeniging, after the victims’ belongings were found in their possession. Other items, such as ID documents that did not belong to the suspects, were also found in their possession.

Viljoensdrif police are expecting to be able to solve more of the cases of robbery that have occurred on the Vaal River as a result of the discovery of these items.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 39, are expected to appear in the Sasolburg Magistrates’ Court soon.

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