Farmers in the area have commended both Elandslaagte and Ladysmith police for their fast response to a shooting on a farm close to Elandslaagte on Monday evening. According to farmer Bruce McLarty, the shooting took place at a kraal about 1km from his house.

A lone man approached the homestead on the farm and called to a man he apparently knew, asking him to come outside.  He claimed he wanted tobacco. The father of the man invited the visitor inside the homestead and gave him some tobacco.

As the visitor was leaving, he pulled out a handgun and fired at the man’s son, hitting him in the shoulder. He also shot the man’s daughter and her child, hitting the daughter in the leg and the young 10-year-old girl in the face.

When Mr McLarty heard the shots, he (together with other farmers in the area) rushed to the kraal. Police and ambulance services were co-ordinated by Secure SA.  All three gunshot victims were rushed towards Ladysmith in the farmer’s vehicle. En-route, he met up with Sharaj Ambulance Services.
A transfer was made and the injured were rushed to hospital by ambulance.

Farmers in the area expressed shock at the shooting but praised Elandslaagte police.