7-Gang armed attack on Mooinooi smallholding

Rustenburg/ Mooinooi – A 66-year-old man, living on a smallholding in the Groenkloof area just outside Mooinooi, was attacked by 7 armed intruders on Wednesday morning, 12 February 2025. The victim shares the house on the smallholding with a roommate who was away at the time of the attack. 
At around 6:30 in the morning, he heard a disturbance and stepped outside to investigate. It was an ambush. Seven men of which some were pointing guns, overpowered him and forced their way inside. 

They looted his weapons and a night vision device — a tool used by many people staying on smallholdings or farms for security. His saving grace was the sound of a vehicle approaching the smallholding. It was a concerned neighbour who reacted after his phone call to the victim was not answered.

In a violent act, the suspects struck him on the head with a pickaxe before fleeing the scene in the direction of Majakaneng. Hartbeespoort Emergency Services treated the injured man at the scene. Despite his injuries, he declined hospitalisation.

Prelimenary investigations show that the suspects gained access to the smallholding by crawling under a section of the fence which is covered by thick bush. AfriForum Buurtwag chairperson Alie Chamberlain confirmed that SAPS Mooinooi is investigating the case, but that no arrests have been made.

According to Chamberlain, the way in which farmers, and community members staying on smallholdings help protect their neighbours and their farmworkers, has saved many lives. He told Platinum Weekly: “For the vulnerable people staying on remote locations, checking in on your neighbours when something seems off — is more than just community spirit; it’s a matter of life and death. They are relying on tight-knit community networks to protect one another.”

Chamberlain wishes to remind people staying on smallholdings and farms to not go out of their homes when they hear or notice something out of the ordinary. ‘Rather alert the people on your neighbourhood watch, and SAPS if necessary and stay indoors’, he said.

Anyone with information about this armed robbery and attack is urged to contact SAPS Mooinooi.