Armed robbers strike at Harding farm
Three armed men attacked the woman and domestic worker in the house and demanded money.
Gunmen held up a woman, a domestic worker and several workers at a farm in Hluku, Harding at about mid-morning on Monday this week.
The farmer was in Cedarville at the time of the incident.
Bertie Strydom, also a farmer in the area responded to a distress call from the farm manager.
“Three armed men attacked the woman and domestic worker in the house and demanded money. The workers who were in the yard at the time were locked in a workshop,” said Mr Strydom.
However, one of the workers managed to break free and during his escape a shot was fired at him by one of the robbers.
At the same time, the farm manager was driving up to the house when he heard the gunshot, saw the fleeing worker and realised something was wrong.
He raised the alarm.
The robbers ransacked the premises and loaded valuables into the farmer’s truck and fled.
During a search of the area, some 15 minutes later, the truck was found abandoned at the side of the road.
Provincial police spokesman, Colonel Thembeka Mbele confirmed that the woman and her employee had been bound with cables.
“The robbers demanded cash and firearms but when none were found, they stole a television and two cellphones.
“A case of business robbery was opened at Harding police station,” she said.
Mr Strydom who is a member of AfriForum, part of the Margate cluster, said that such incidents were escalating.
He added that evening security patrols were carried out with farmers in the Harding area who form part of a security desk.
“We keep in contact via radio. Patrols are conducted throughout the night on a roster basis,” he said.
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