Shot Brondal farmer dies in hospital, reward for information
His heart stopped beating around 07:15 on Thursday morning.
MBOMBELA – The farmer from Brondal who was shot when six men robbed his house on Saturday morning, died in Mediclinic Nelspruit early yesterday morning. Bossies Community Justice now offer a reward of up to R50 000 for information which will lead to the conviction of the suspects.
According to family member Ms Yulindi Kruger, Mr Koos Kruger’s (47) heart failed around 07:15 on Thursday. “His heart stopped beating. His body just couldn’t handle the trauma.”
The bullet penetrated Kruger’s left lung, heart and colon. Doctors told Kruger’s family it is due to these wounds that his kidneys failed and he developed septicaemia. He was also breathing with the aid of a ventilator. Kruger was shot in his arm and side when six men entered their farm around 03:00 on Saturday, according to
Mr Shaun Terblanche, operational manager of J&M Security Nelspruit.
Two men stood outside to keep guard while the other four entered the house through a broken window.
One of the four assailants was armed with a revolver. He shot Kruger when the latter asked him what they were doing in his house.
His wife, Ms Lee Kruger (39) was in bed next to him. She instinctively fell on top of her husband when she heard the gunshots, pretending to also have been shot. The suspects then picked up their arms and dropped them to the ground, to see if they were in fact lifeless. When they were satisfied, they continued to ransack the house looking for the safe.
Their daughter (14) locked herself in her room when she heard the shots.
Terblanche believes the suspects did not know that she was also in the house.
While the robbers were searching the house, Ms Kruger got up and attempted to escape. One of the men returned. The man, along with one other suspect, ran after her and tackled her to the ground outside the house.
They hit her a few times but according to Terblanche, she was not seriously injured.
The two suspects returned to join the other four and fled with four of Kruger’s firearms and an undisclosed sum of money. They escaped through the hole which they had cut in the fence to enter the premises.
Ms Kruger ran to the houses of farm workers to get a phone to call for help.
J&M Security was the first to respond. They then called Hi-Tech Medical Services, Mpumalanga Emergency Medical Services and Netcare 911. “He was critical when we got to him,” said Hi-Tech Medical Services manager Mr Jacques Ainslie. “He had lost a lot of blood.” At the time of going to print, no funeral arrangements have been made. “We would like to thank everyone for the love and support during this time,” Ms Kruger said. “A special thanks to Dr Hannes Naudé and his team at Mediclininc Nelspruit for their dedicated work and kindness.”
Vissie Visser and Jacques Meiring of Bossies Community Justice (BCJ) have placed a reward of up to R50 000 for anyone who can help convict Kruger’s alleged killers. Anyone who has information on the six suspects can contact BCJ at 082-567-5212.
