Man held for farm attacks

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Brakfontein, Eastern Cape -

A man was arrested on Wednesday after being linked to two farm attacks in Brakfontein, outside East London, Eastern Cape police said.

The 24-year-old was arrested when items stolen during the robberies on Monday and Wednesday were recovered, Captain Stephen Marais said.

A search was underway for his accomplice.

Two men shot and wounded a 58-year-old farmer on his farm around 1.30am on Wednesday morning. They stole four firearms and fled.

Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape MPL Bobby Stevenson named the farmer as Gary Rudy, and said he was shot three times.

The police said he drove to a neighbour, from where he was taken to hospital.

His family had told the police he was having a bullet removed from his lower abdomen, Marais said.

Investigations led police to a man appearing in the East London Magistrate's Court on a housebreaking charge.

He was questioned and arrested when the firearms were found. Police would not disclose where the items where recovered.

Six stolen firearms, one of which was used in the attack on Rudy, and laptops, were among the items recovered.

Marais said had been established that some of the items where stolen in an attack on a woman, who was tied up and robbed at a farm in same area on Monday.

The man would appear in the East London Magistrate's Court on Friday on charges of attempted murder, robbery, housebreaking, theft and possession of stolen property.

Stevenson said Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had not done enough to respond to the DA's calls for the establishment of rural safety units.

“We believe that it is imperative that a specialised rural safety division of the (SA Police Service) be established,” he said. - Sapa