A pensioner from the Western Cape has allegedly been assaulted, kidnapped, and left abandoned by a farmer at the weekend.
The 64-year-old man from Vredenburg was visiting his friend on a farm in Hopefield and was walking alone on Sunday evening when a man in a vehicle approached him and assaulted him.
Speaking on behalf of the victim, Billy Claasen, the executive director for the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation strongly condemned the brutal assault.
“It is alleged that the assault took place on Sunday evening on the suspect's farm. Reports indicate that the victim was beaten with an iron pole all over his body, later kidnapped to an unknown location, repeatedly assaulted, and eventually abandoned alongside a road,” Classen said.
He said a racial slur was also used to address the pensioner.
“It is further alleged that the suspect said to the victim, ‘venaand donner ek jou dood (tonight I’ll beat you to death), hotnot’ This statement constitutes both racism and hate speech,” Claasen said.
“We condemn this incident because violence against disabled people, elderly individuals, women, and children has become rampant. Too many vulnerable persons are being hurt or killed. It is a pandemic of violence,” Claasen said.
The Western Cape police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk confirmed a case has been opened with police.
“An assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH) was opened and registered on Monday night (December 2) at Vredenburg SAPS, relating to the incident that took place on Sunday, December 1, at 8pm at a farm in the Hopefield area This case docket was transferred to Hopefield SAPS on December 3, for further investigation,” Van Wyk said.
He confirmed the 64-year-old pensioner was visiting his friend.
“He alleges that he went to the said farm to visit his friends, it became late and he walked alone to his friend’s house which is also on the farm. The complainant stated that a male drove up to him with his light duty vehicle (LDV) and he was assaulted by this male. The suspect instructed the complainant to get onto the back of the LDV and they drove around. The suspect allegedly stopped and assaulted the complainant again and left him there.
No arrests have been made yet, investigations continue,” Van Wyk said.
Claasen has called out Hopefield police.
“It’s shocking that no arrests have been made so far. The Hopefield police are known for their lenient approach toward farmers and/or white individuals. This needs to change. We call on the national commissioner to intervene and urge them to deploy detectives from outside Hopefield to investigate this case thoroughly,” Classen said.
Furthermore, he called for equality for all.
“The incidents targeting disabled individuals, women, and children in rural communities over recent weeks are deeply concerning for our poverty-stricken communities. Additionally, the conduct of some police officers requires scrutiny. The police must act without fear, favour, or prejudice and treat all people equally before the law,” Claasen said.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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