According to a police spokesperson in Tzaneen, Sgt Maurice Nkhwashu, the farm worker went outside to get fresh air at around 19:00 when he was met by a group of about ten men of which two had firearms and the rest were armed with sticks “looking ready for battle”. The farm worker alleges that a firearm was pointed to his forehead and he was forced back into the room where both his hands and feet were tied up with his shoelaces.

Nkhwashu said the men ransacked the house whilst making it clear that they are not looking for him but are looking for his employer whom they mentioned by name. The farm worker said that two men stood guard whilst the rest said they were going to the main house of his employer. After a few minutes, they came back running leaving him tied up in his room. The victim alleges that he managed to untie himself. According to Marius Jacobs of Canine Security, the farm worker was able to report the incident to a neighbouring farm who alerted the police and community security groups.

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Jacobs, who was on the scene, said the incident occurred near the Kasteel turnoff in Agatha and that they suspect the men fled in the direction of the R36 in the order of Mokgoloboto. The assailants stole the farm worker’s clothes, groceries, two cell phones, three car batteries, a solar torch, and undisclosed cash in his room. No shots were fired and no injuries were sustained.

“The suspects did not manage to rob the main house and the owner said he did not see or hear anything on the night of the robbery,” Nkhwashu said. He said the complainant alleges that the assailants were speaking fluent Sepedi but that their accents were similar to Zimbabweans. “We are appealing to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact Dt Coll Zitha on 082 414 3309,” he said.