Agriculture Committee welcomes arrest of suspects in N Cape farm murder

An elderly couple, aged 79 and 83, and their daughter aged 50 were allegedly robbed and kidnapped on their farm in Magogong, outside Hartswater on Sunday.

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has commended the swift action of the police which led to the arrest of three suspects allegedly involved in a Northern Cape farm murder.

An elderly couple, aged 79 and 83, and their daughter aged 50 were allegedly robbed and kidnapped on their farm in Magogong, outside Hartswater on Sunday.

The body of the 50-year-old has since been found.

Committee Chairperson Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela has welcomed the arrests of three suspects and emphasised that they must face the full might of the law.

"Our justice system must send out a strong message that there is no place in our democracy for such callous and inhumane acts. We appeal to the SAPS to leave no stone unturned to find the missing couple and to bring the alleged perpetrators of this heinous crime to book.

"We have repeatedly condemned attacks on farms and farmers as acts of gross criminality that is detrimental to the social cohesion that our young democracy needs," Mandela said.

Mandela has expressed heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victims.

He also appealed to farmers, farm-dwellers and rural communities to always be on the alert and to raise awareness of this troubling phenomenon, and to assist in intelligence gathering that may assist in reducing the incidents of violent crime on farms.

"We applaud SAPS for its swift response and trust that the early breakthrough in the arrest of suspects sends a strong message to others that crime does not pay and that the full weight of the law shall come down hard on perpetrators of such senseless acts," the Chairperson said.

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)