The 63-year-old man who was shot in the face on Friday, 24 February remains hospitalised but his condition is improving, according to a friend close to the family who informed the Herald.
Early that morning, the elderly couple was viciously attacked on their smallholding at Bootha plots in Randfontein. Local police said a 63-year-old man was shot in the face after four unknown male suspects overpowered him and his 62-year-old wife during a house robbery.
The Herald reported later that day that the man, Hennie Croukamp, was in a critical but stable condition in a local hospital.
The friend close to the family told the Herald on Thursday that he is more reactive and that when he is asked a question, he responds by nodding his head. She added he was calm and comfortable. This is day six since the incident took place and according to another source, his improving condition can only be a good sign.
On the day of the attack, the Herald visited the scene, where we were told the Croukamp’s two dogs had been poisoned and that the attackers allegedly used vienna sausages to conceal the poison.
The place where they had jumped over the wire fence could also clearly be seen. They then accessed the house through a broken window and burglar bars.
Captain Appel Ernst, Randfontein Police’s spokesperson said, “It is alleged that the couple was woken by the dogs barking. The noise was investigated and when nothing out of the ordinary was found, they went back to sleep.”
Captain Ernst further said that at about 4.10am, the couple was overpowered by the unknown male perpetrators. One of them shot the man in the face and then forced the wife to the safe.
An approaching security vehicle allegedly spooked the perpetrators, who took a firearm and fled the scene.The injured victim was transported to a local hospital shortly afterwards.
The West Rand Trio Task Team, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gert Kruger, is leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to trace and apprehend the perpetrators.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
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Farm attack: Masked suspects on the run
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