Kimberley - Two elderly men were severely injured during an attack on an isolated smallholding outside Jacobsdal, where they were assaulted, tied up and left for dead.
The owner of the smallholding, 66-year-old Coenraad Bezuidenhout lay unconscious on the house’s floor for nearly 14 hours before help arrived. He was on Sunday still in the Kimberley Hospital’s intensive care unit, unable to speak, following the gruesome attack that left him with severe head injuries.
The incident took place around 2am on Thursday morning.
The other victim, Coenraad Groenewald, 78, who also sustained extensive head injuries during the incident, on Sunday told the DFA that he a noise woke him up at around 2am and then two men appeared and dragged him from his bed to the house’s hallway and tied his hands and feet with rope.
“While tied up the two men assaulted me by hitting me over the head with a sharp object. They smashed my spectacles into my eyes and nose and, while pointing a gun at my face, asked me where Bezuidenhout kept the keys to the safe.
“I told them that I did not know and that they should ask him but he was already unconscious, also lying tied up a few metres from me. He was bleeding from his head and not responding,” Groenewald said.
He added that while the men ransacked the house, he just lay there, praying, thinking that he was going to die.
The men allegedly made off with his cell phone, watch and wedding band, as well as his bakkie.
Firearms and tools, belonging to Bezuidenhout, were also stolen.
Groenewald, after untying himself, was unable to call for help.
“After freeing myself, I also untied Bezuidenhout, who was lying unconscious on the floor. I covered him with a blanket and tried to wake him up but he was not responding. Although I could see that he was still alive I feared the worse,” Groenewald said.
He then walked several kilometres to the neighbours to ask for help but they were not at home. While walking, a vehicle stopped and the occupants assisted him. It was almost 4 pm when medical assistance finally arrived and Bezuidenhout, who had already lost a huge amount of blood due to his head injuries, was stabilised and transported to the Kimberley Hospital. Several bones in his face had been broken and he also sustained bleeding on the brain.
The bakkie was found in Modderriver on Friday. The suspects apparently hit a pole while trying to escape with the stolen goods.
Free State police spokesman, Constable Mosili Ntsika, on Sunday the incident and added that they were still looking for the two suspects, who are wanted in connection with housebreaking and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm.
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