22 July 2007
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Mtholephi
Mthimkhulu (MPL) has called on the security services to spare no effort in
their investigation into the killing of an elderly farming couple in the
Swartberg area between Kokstad and Underberg.
Condemning the Friday (20 July) night slaying of Mr Ray and Yvonne Fitch,
Mthimkhulu said the heinous crime perpetrated on the elderly couple deserved to
be condemned by peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of KwaZulu-Natal.
According to initial reports, the deceased, believed to be in their 70s,
were accosted by unidentified assailants on Friday whilst at their farmhouse in
the Swartberg area. It is believed that Mr Fitch was badly beaten by his
attackers before he died and his spouse was also beaten but police have not yet
conclusively determined whether her death was caused by the beating as other
reports had suggested that she could have died of a heart attack.
The couple was involved in cattle, sheep and maize farming in the Swartberg
District of East Griqualand. The assailants also took the couple's vehicle
which was later found abandoned nearby.
"It is with sadness that we have received the news of the brutal slaying of
the Fitchs and this comes hardly two days after another farmer from the
neighbouring Cedarville town Mr David Southey was attacked at his farm during
the week. We would like to call on our police services to leave no stone
unturned in their investigation so that the perpetrators of this dastardly deed
should be brought to book," said Mthimkhulu.
Mr Southey has since been discharged from hospital and is recuperating at
home. The MEC further appealed to community members in the area who may have
information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects to immediately
avail such information to the police.
"On behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Government and the Department of Agriculture
and Environmental Affairs in particular, we would like to express our deepest
condolences to the bereaved Fitch family and the entire farming fraternity at
this difficult moment. We would like to reassure them that, as government, we
will also work tirelessly to strengthen our farm protection and security
initiatives so as to ensure that such a heinous crime does not recur," said
Mthimkhulu.
The MEC said a provincial task team of experienced detectives has been
assigned to investigate the Fitch murders. He said his office has been in
constant liaison with the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) and will
be working closely with the farmers union on the progress of the case.
Enquiries:
Mbulelo Baloyi
Cell: 082 415 7277
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
22 July 2007
Source: SAPA
