A FAMILY is waiting for justice for three relatives after a farmer allegedly tortured them.
Three cousins – Christopher Hlabane (27), Thato Baloi (25) and Abel Mashiloane (28) – of Stinkwater, near Tshwane were sent to fetch wood.
Christopher said they were driven in a bakkie to cut wood. Suddenly a young white man approached them.
“He accused us of damaging the farm’s fence and stealing iron bars,” he said.
The three claim they were kicked, beaten with sjamboks and a firearm and thrown into a cage.
“The man also fired a shot at our feet and told us to jump the fence into the farm.
“He hit me with his gun in the face and I fell. We jumped the fence as he followed us and made a call,” said Christopher.
The man’s mother and the farm owner came along. The three cousins said the owner tied them up and beat them.
Thato said: “The owner said he was going to kill us. He said people die on his farm and he would never be arrested. There were lions, dogs and jackals. He threatened to feed us to them before making us sign a note saying we would never involve cops.”
The counsins said they were forced to sign a document and thenthe farmer called the police.
“But I knew that when the police left he wouldn’t free us so I pretended to be very weak. The police said I needed to be taken to hospital and the farmer agreed to free me,” he said.
The cops dropped them at Jubilee Hospital in Temba, where they were treated and discharged. They then went to Loate Police Station where they laid charges.
Constable Petunia Chabangu said cases of attempted murder and assault were opened. “I don’t know why the farmer has not been arrested yet, but I think our members will go to his farm and take him in,” she said.
Attempts to get hold of the farmer failed.
