A man lost his life, and his wife is currently recovering in hospital from her injuries after unknown assailants opened fire on them shortly after they arrived at their property in Randridge agricultural holdings in Randfontein last week.

Chairperson of Stock Theft Information Centre and Rural Safety in Randfontein, JP de Beer confirmed to the Randfontein Herald that the couple, identified as Duwayne and Ingrid Smith, was shot in front of their children aged 8 and 10.

The attack occurred just before 20:00 on August 3.

“We believe that the attack was not financially motivated as the suspects did not take anything from the scene. Instead, they shot the family as they were pulling in the driveway,” De Beer says.

He adds the couple was shot multiple times. Their children were unharmed during the incident.

Local security company Mapogo A Mathamaga’s operations manager Danie Vermeulen also confirmed the attack.

“We responded to an incident of murder and attempted robbery at the agricultural holdings. Armed robbers entered the property and waited for the residents to arrive home. Upon arrival, they confronted the couple and their children. They opened fire, fatally wounding the husband and wounding his wife through her shoulder,” says Vermeulen, who adds that the perpetrators fled the scene.

The newspaper approached Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi for official comment, but he could not be reached at the time of publishing.