Dalton farmer’s daughter held-up at gunpoint in family home, 4 arrested

A farmer’s daughter faced her worst fears when she was confronted by 6 armed men in her bedroom last Thursday morning at the family’s farmstead in Dalton, near New Hanover.

Four people have since been arrested in connection with the armed robbery on the farm 80km inland of Ballito.

The robbers, armed with a firearm, knife and crowbars entered the farm at about 7am through the back door and confronted Sally-Ann Culverwell (34).

“I was so confused at first, thinking they were there to fix something as we have been renovating.

“But the next thing I knew there was a gun in my face.

“All kinds of thoughts were racing through my mind. I tilted my head sideways to avoid being shot in the face. They were frantic and I could tell they were nervous.”

Sally-Ann said her first instinct was to pray.

“I asked Jesus to help me, to give me strength and courage.

“Then I spoke to them with boldness and I told them that God would be angry with them and would punish them.”

They demanded to be shown the safe before tying her hands and feet with a cell phone charger cable and shoelaces.

Left on the bedroom floor, she managed to escape while the men ransacked the house.

While hiding in the marsh near the dam, she heard shots fired and feared her brother, who lives on the property, had been shot.

However, the alarm had been raised by the gardener and the gun shots she had heard had been warning shots fired by her brother.

The robbers fled from the house empty-handed.

“Within a few minutes the whole community was there. I was so grateful and amazed at how quickly the farmers arrived.”

Sally-Ann’s parents, who have farmed in the area for more than 30 years, were in Rosetta at the time of the break-in and were alerted to the unfolding drama by their son.

Her mother, Alicia said the swift response by police led to the arrest of 2 men and 2 women, all Zimbabweans.

“We understand that the 4 Zimbabwean nationals will be deported back to their country,” said Alicia, who said the prayers and support their family had received from the community had been overwhelming.

Sally-Ann said she was very grateful for the show of force by the police but believes more needs to be done to deter criminals from preying on farmers.

“There must be grave consequences from farm attacks. I believe the criminal element feel they can get away with their evil deeds. The law needs to be strong on violent crime,” she said.