17:48 (GMT+2), Fri, 29 May 2015
Bloemfontein – The Northern Cape agriculture community is still reeling after news of the first farm murder in the province for the year broke on OFM News this morning.
Police spokesperson Sergio Kock has confirmed that 64-year-old Christo Kruger was shot dead on his farm Byron between Kuruman and Khatu, allegedly around 8pm on Thursday night.
He is believed to have been standing at the back door of his house after hearing a disturbance outside when he was shot in the chest. His wife Vera was in the house but was not injured in the attack.
Agri Northern Cape General Manager Henning Myburgh meanwhile says the news came as a huge shock because the province has been relatively untouched by farm murders.
‘Henning Myburgh’
Agri Northern Cape rural safety head Joe Scholtz says there were two farm murders in the province last year. He says in the first case a farmer was beaten to death near Van Zylsrus, while in the second case a farmer was shot dead on his farm near Hartswater.
Kock says no arrests have been made yet. Police have also not yet indicated the motive for the murder or how many suspects are being sought.
Christal-Lize Muller/OFM News