The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned an incident in which a 76-year-old man was killed in a farm at Delmas in the morning of today, Sunday 20 March 2022. A manhunt for the suspects have been launched.
According to the report, it is said that at about 11h00 am, a man and his wife were in their house at a farm (Welgevonden) in Delmas when they heard the sound of a hooter at the gate.
The man then went outside to check and the wife reported that she observed six males who indicated that they were there to buy grass bales. The suspects were then reportedly informed by the man that it was Sunday and he could not help them before going back to the house. Short moments later, the old man informed his wife that he decided to assist them anyway. The suspects are said to have then allegedly strangled the old man. Thereafter four armed suspects reportedly entered the house where they demanded for cash from the man’s wife.
The woman was then reportedly tied up with strings after she indicated to their assailants that they did not have cash. The suspects are said to have then went through the house searching for money. After a while the suspects reportedly left with two cell phones.
The man’s wife, who was unaware of what has happened to her husband at the time managed to walk to the neighbour’s farm to seek help. After a search at the premises, the body of Mr Gustav Rappard (her husband) was found in the barn. Police and the medical personnel were notified about the incident. The man was unfortunately certified dead and police opened a case of farm murder hence the manhunt.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has called for the swift arrest of the suspects. “Those suspects should be hunted down and be brought to book within a short space of time. It is really a disgrace that suspects target defenceless victims and after robbing them, they shamefully murder them” commented the General.
Source: South African Police Service