Farmer walks 2km for help after being shot multiple times in attack near KMI Airport
A man who was shot multiple times on his farm near the KMI Airport on Sunday afternoon, February 11, is currently in a stable condition.
A local farmer, Johan le Roux, is lucky to be alive after four suspects overpowered him as he was mowing his lawn on Sunday afternoon, February 11, shot him multiple times, dragged him into his house, tied him up and left him for dead.
Le Roux managed to free himself a while afterwards and, with his right arm broken, walked 2km to find help.
According to Hi-Tech White River, who was reportedly first on the scene, Le Roux had been mowing his lawn near his house on the farm when four men appeared from behind a rubber tree next to the fence between his property and the KMI Airport.
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Hi-Tech said the men began shooting at Le Roux, who was hit multiple times, dragged him to the house, tied him up and stole several items from the house, which was then loaded into Le Roux’s bakkie, a silver Ford Ranger, in which they fled.
Le Roux managed to untie himself and walked to the compound on the farm to get help. Hi-Tech said they had seen the call for help on a local WhatsApp group, and when they arrived at the compound, they drove Le Roux back to the house.
ER24 Lowveld’s branch manger, Kim Habib, said that ER24 had received a call about the incident at 17:43.
She said Le Roux had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and a broken right arm. She said he had walked 2km to find help. Habib said ER24 had transported him to hospital in a stable condition.
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Mediclinic Nelspruit’s spokesperson, Liza Pillay, confirmed Le Roux’s condition on Monday morning. Albert Gryvenstein, the owner of AG Solutions, was also called on Sunday evening. It was established that Le Roux’s vehicle had a vehicle tracking system installed. Callen Herbst of AG Solutions traced the vehicle to where it had been abandoned near the KMI Airport.
The suspects are believed to have fled the area on foot.
A provincial police spokesperson, Captain Magonseni Nkosi, said a case of house robbery had been opened. He said the incident had been reported to the White River police at about 18:50. He said when the police arrived, Le Roux had already been taken to hospital. He said they went to Mediclinic on Sunday evening to get a statement, but Le Roux had been too traumatised to talk to them. Nkosi said the case of house robbery might change after they have obtained a statement from Le Roux.
This is a developing story. More information will be supplied once it becomes available.
