TZANEEN – The 84-year-old man accused of attacking Deerpark farmer Pieter Buys with a panga has been granted R500 bail after appearing before the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Monday, June 29. The matter was postponed to August 28.

Buys said he was unaware that the accused had been released on bail and only found out after the court appearance.

“I do not know anything about that. Irritated and disappointed in the justice system,” Buys told the Herald.

The attack

The accused was arrested following the alleged attack on Buys’ farm on June 26.

Buys sustained severe head and neck injuries after he was allegedly attacked while confronting a man he found on his property.

According to Buys, he had approached the man after noticing him on the farm while switching off irrigation pumps. The man allegedly claimed he was looking for cattle, but Buys questioned the explanation as the property is enclosed by game fencing.

As Buys turned after hearing two of his employees approaching, the situation allegedly escalated.

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

Read more: Farmer survives panga attack in Deerpark

Recovering at home

Buys was rushed to Mediclinic Tzaneen, where doctors treated two deep wounds extending from the top of his head to the middle of his neck.

He lost a significant amount of blood before the bleeding was brought under control. He has since been discharged from hospital and is continuing his recovery at home.