On Monday June 14, Muldersdrift farmer, Wessel Swart woke up to find two wheels stolen from his double-axle trailer and a big hole in his fence. This is the fifth incident at his property this year. His bolero was poisoned, his house was burgled, his Audi A3 was stolen, and the battery of his bakkie was stolen. This latest incident joins a long list of rampant break-ins.
Swart said bolt cutters, screwdrivers, a crowbar and other housebreaking tools were found on his farm where the fence was cut. He immediately called Muldersdrift Police to report the crime. “I phoned the police at around 7:20 and they arrived seven hours later after 15:00.”
On May 6, his silver Audi A3 was stolen from his property. Swart reported this matter to the police in Muldersdrift. He said since the incident, he had upgraded his security to ensure his safety. However, he said the case of his missing vehicle has reached a dead-end. “They informed me that investigations were concluded and that all the leads had been followed up.”
Burglaries and armed robberies in the Rietfontein and Muldersdrift areas have become almost a daily occurrence. On June 1 a Muldersdrift resident was shot dead when intruders broke into his property. Swart suspects that something more sinister was at play, and believes that many of these crimes are committed by the same people. “We have to face the fact that we’re vulnerable, and mentally prepare yourself that something will most likely happen to us, but worse things have happened to other people. The police just close cases, what is going on?”
The Northsider’s calls to the Muldersdrift Police went unanswered.
