North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa commends the police for the swift arrest of three farmers who allegedly assaulted two farm workers on a farm near Ottosdal on Monday afternoon.
The farm workers aged 50 and 35 respectively were allegedly assaulted by the farm owner and two of his accomplices around 5h30pm for passing through his newly acquired farm on their way home. The farmer had allegedly confronted the pair on Sunday afternoon for trespassing and had summoned his accomplices to "sort them out".
Residents from Letsopa township outside Ottosdal were infuriated by the accident and matched to Ottosdal police station to demand that the suspects be handed over to them. The trio who are expected to appear in the Ottosdal Magistrate Court on Tuesday to answer to charges of assault grievous bodily harm (GBH) had to be transferred elsewhere for their own safety.
MEC Yawa appeals to the Ottosdal farming community and residents of Letsopa township to exercise calm and restraint and to leave the matter to the courts for the law to follow its course.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Fax: 018 381 9123
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: Lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
