TZANEEN – Deerpark farmer Pieter Buys, who sustained life-threatening injuries during an attack on his farm on Friday morning, June 26, has been discharged from the hospital and is continuing his recovery at home.

Speaking after his discharge, Buys told the Herald that doctors were able to stop the bleeding and stitch his wounds.

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Two serious injuries

“I have two huge cuts that basically made one large wound from the top of my head down into the middle of my neck,” he said.

“I lost a massive amount of blood. They were also trying to prevent infection because I believe the panga may have been used in poaching.”

Despite the severity of his injuries, Buys said he is hopeful of making a full recovery.

How the attack unfolded

Recounting the incident, Buys said he was switching off irrigation pumps on Friday morning when he noticed a man walking on the farm.

He called two employees who were nearby on a quad bike to assist while he approached the man from the opposite direction.

According to Buys, the suspect lay down in long grass after spotting him. When confronted, the man claimed he was looking for cattle.

Buys questioned the explanation, noting that the property is enclosed by game fencing, making it unlikely that cattle could have wandered onto the farm.

“I asked him whose cattle they were, but I didn’t recognise the name he gave me,” Buys said.

“I simply told him he wasn’t allowed to be there and asked him to come with me so my workers could escort him off the property.”

‘He pulled out a panga from nowhere’

As Buys turned after hearing his employees approaching, the situation escalated dramatically.

“He suddenly pulled out a panga from nowhere and hit me at the back of my head twice,” he said.

“Fortunately, I didn’t fall. When I turned around, he tried to hit me in the face a third time. I managed to grab hold of the panga with both hands, grabbed him by his clothing, and subdued him until my workers arrived.”

The two employees then assisted in restraining the suspect until police arrived at the scene.

“There was absolutely no reason for him to attack me,” Buys said. “As far as I was concerned, the matter had already been resolved. We were simply going to escort him off the farm.”

Buys was rushed to Tzaneen Mediclinic by his wife.

Agri Letaba condemns attack

Reacting to the incident, Agri Letaba CEO Naomi Excell condemned the attack.

“Violence and criminality have no place in our community. We urge the South African Police Service to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

“We also encourage all farmers, farm workers, and rural residents to become actively involved in their local rural safety committees, Farm Watches, community policing forums, and other recognised security structures. Working together, sharing information, and maintaining strong partnerships with law enforcement remain some of our most effective tools in preventing rural crime.”

The suspect appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Monday, June 29. Police investigations into the incident are continuing.