Lee-Anne Vickers is on the road to recovery following a brutal farm attack at a farm situated along the R103 close to Mooi River on April 7. She is wife to Mr Vickers, who is the owner and dairy farmer of Ballan Cross Farm.
On that horrific Sunday afternoon at 3.15pm Mrs Vickers was busy in the dairy, milking cows along with four employees when a blue VW Polo arrived with four male occupants.
READ MORE HERE: Female dairy farmer allegedly beaten and restrained in Mooi River
After they requested to buy milk, she told them that they do not sell to the public. They then drove off and returned a short while later. That’s when they beat, strangled and bound Mrs Vickers.
Chairperson of the Mooi River Farmers Association, Angus Williamson said “I strongly condemn any of our farmers of being attacked. It is very sad that our farmers, their family members and employees are being attacked and in this case, a woman at that, on a Sunday at your own home while trying to work. Our food supply is also being attacked relentlessly.”
Mr Williamson added firmly that he condemns this attack in every form and manner.
“I would like for these men to be caught. I am angry that they invaded my personal space while I was trying to do an honest day’s work. I am angry that they stole my personal belongings,” told Mrs Vickers bitterly.
Mrs Vickers had to be taken to hospital for medical care after the assault.
Her cell phone, wedding ring and car keys were taken by the suspects, but the car keys were recovered strewn nearby. Constable Nzimande from the Mooi River police station is investigating a case of armed robbery.
“I won’t write off any of the information I have at the moment. We have footage of the suspects’ vehicle in the area at the exact time the complainant mentioned and this ties in. Unfortunately the footage is not very clear and the registration plate number is not visible. However the victims will be able to identify the car and the suspects,” explained Constable Nzimande with determination.
Identikits have being circulated around town but police have discovered that the suspects are from out of town and that is a challenge.
Constable Nzimande added: “We will post these identikits in neighbouring towns and on social media to bring the suspects to book. The men in the vehicle were seen in the area shortly before the incident. Police will now check if the suspects have any friends or relatives in the area. Also at this point the only evidence we have is the R20 note left on the farm by the suspects who posed as customers.”
The R20 note has since been sent to the laboratory for tests to be run.
In a separate incident, Mrs Vickers went to purchase a new cell phone for the employee whose was stolen during the farm attack. As the employee was returning home, she was robbed at knife point. The man was arrested and appeared in the Mooi River Magistrate’s Court on April 25.
“We acted fast and managed to arrest the suspect but the witness could not tie the man to the farm attack,” explained Constable Nzimande. If you have any helpful information about the whereabouts of the alleged farm attackers, please contact Constable Nzimande on 076 012 6167.
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