Zuurplaat farm
attackers before court

Rustenburg – Three foreign nationals will appear before the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court for a bail application on 6 August following their arrest at the Zuurplaat farm, near the Old Pretoria road a week ago.

In their first appearance on Monday 30 July, the suspects were charged with robbery, attempted murder, copper cable theft, illegal posession of a firearm and ammunition and tampering with infrastructure.

Police spokesperson sergeant Ofentse Mokgadi said it appeared as if the suspects had planned the robbery beforehand. “They tripped the electricity on the property and stole the copper cables before entering the premises.

Once inside, it is alleged that they assaulted the employees who were trying to defend themselves. In the ensuing scuffle, one of the employees was pistol whipped which resulted in a deep gash in his head. The suspects fled with cellphones, cash and other valuable items to a nearby mountain where they hid for the night,” sergeant Mokgadi said.

The next morning, the suspects summoned a co-conspirator to come and fetch them. The farming community in the area noticed the suspicious activities and immediately summoned for assistance. The police gave chase and managed to arrest three suspects, while two managed to escape.