Former Ladysmith resident Marius Deysel, who was the owner of Maroupi Wedding Venue near Umhlali, was gunned down by four armed men on Saturday night (January 28).

Marius and some guests were gathered around the braai at about 9pm when the attackers came out of the darkness and fired a warning shot. Witnesses said Marius immediately turned and moved to intercept the men – shielding his guests from harm – and was shot in the chest with a shotgun.

The four men, dressed in beanies and hoodies, forced the guests into one of the buildings, where they demanded that they hand over all their valuables.

The men assaulted the guests, beating them up during their search for valuables, before escaping through the hole they had earlier cut in the property’s electric fence, fleeing into the sugar cane on the farm.

It was reported that a police K9 Unit followed the attackers’ tracks in the dark for about a kilometre before losing the trail where they believe the men climbed into a car and drove away.

Read full story HERE: https://northcoastcourier.co.za/77638/umhlali-wedding-venue-owner-killed-while-shielding-guests/