The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Commissioner Bheki Cele has commended the special task force for a swift response in a highly orchestrated hostage drama on the Abrahamskraal Road at Bainsvlei in the Free State province where two suspects (hostage handlers) were shot dead in the early hours of this morning, 15 December 2009 after about 20 hours of hostage negotiations by relevant forces.
Preliminary reports have revealed that the drama unfolded yesterday at about 10h00 when Mr Flip Kotze (60) was attacked and assaulted by two suspects on his farm in Uitvlug in the Petrusburg area. The suspects robbed Kotze of a revolver a Winchester rifle and cell phone and tied him to a pole outside his house. They fled in his double cab bakkie. Mr Kotze managed to free himself and alerted neighbouring farmers. He sustained injuries to his head and a broken arm.
Farmers in the nearby vicinity were mobilised. At approximately 15h00 yesterday, two Venter brothers from a neighbouring farm spotted the suspects and tried to apprehend them but the suspects overpowered and held them hostage in the bakkie. One of the Venter brothers managed to escape from the bakkie whilst they were driving in the direction of Bloemfontein on the Abrahamskraal Road at Bainsvlei. Mr Gerhard Venter (50) however was still with the suspects in the bakkie.
Bloemfontein police cordoned off the Abrahamskraal Road where the suspects were travelling. The suspects threatened to kill Mr Venter if they were not freed. Police negotiators tried to negotiate with the suspects, to no avail. The SAPS special task force was called in for high risk intervention and subsequently the two suspects were fatally wounded without causing further injuries to the hostage. Mr Venter was freed and treated for shock by medical emergency personnel.
“For any eventuality on land, sea and air, our special task force responds decisively and accordingly for the benefit of fellow South Africans. However this is indeed a clear message that criminals must retreat, police are equal to the task and are determined to squeeze the space for criminals to zero”, said Commissioner Cele.
Two revolvers, a 06 Winchester rifle and a 357 Magnum were recovered by the police.
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