AN AGGRIEVED father of five in Koster, North West, who survived being shot by his farmer employer about 10 months ago, is demanding answers why a case of attempted rape on his wife is yet to be heard in court.
The gardener, aged 42, was shot after a confrontation during which he had accused the farmer of having allegedly attempted to rape his wife, who was a domestic worker on the same farm. His wife is aged 38.
He is also accusing the police of having failed to open an attempted rape case.
A source close to the case said they were baffled by the farmer's release, allegedly with a warning, after the shooting incident and told to appear in court.
"The police register does not have an entry to show that the farmer was arrested or even charged," the source said. "They seem to want to make the case disappear."
The attempted murder case was heard on April 5. But the couple were absent. They had not been made aware. The case has since been referred to the Rustenburg Regional Court, but will be heard at the Koster Magistrate's Court on May 22.
The couple worked three times a week for the farmer before the shooting incident.
They only became aware of the hearing after Sowetan alerted them of the next court appearance.
The man said the farmer had sent him to a nearby bottlestore to buy a bottle of brandy.
"I had an eerie feeling that he was up to something," he said.
"I came back quickly from the bottlestore, which caught him by surprise. I then saw my wife running out of the house. She was half-naked. I asked her why she was half-naked, and she told me that the farmer was trying to rape her - this in front of my daughter, who is five years old."
Enraged, the man put the brandy on the table and confronted the farmer, who was still naked.
"He said to me in Afrikaans: 'Jy rak nou slim'" (You're now becoming clever).
After this, the farmer allegedly produced a firearm. The man bolted out of the house and closed the door behind him. He was shot through the door, and was later taken to hospital where he spent two weeks with the bullet lodged in his thigh. It has since been removed.
North West police spokeswoman Imelda Setlhaku confirmed she was aware of of the case.
"The farmer has been charged with attempted murder and granted bail of R1000," Setlhaku said.
"He was also charged for the violation of the Sexual Offences Act."
Setlhaku told Sowetan that she had been informed by Koster police that it was true that the attempted rape charge had not been registered.
"It is due to be read out when the matter is heard again on May 22." - mahlanguba@sowetan.co.za
Farmer still walking free after 'shooting and attempted rape'
AN AGGRIEVED father of five in Koster, North West, who survived being shot by his farmer employer about 10 months ago, is demanding answers why a case of attempted rape on his wife is yet to be heard in court.
The gardener, aged 42, was shot after a confrontation during which he had accused the farmer of having allegedly attempted to rape his wife, who was a domestic worker on the same farm. His wife is aged 38.
He is also accusing the police of having failed to open an attempted rape case.
A source close to the case said they were baffled by the farmer's release, allegedly with a warning, after the shooting incident and told to appear in court.
"The police register does not have an entry to show that the farmer was arrested or even charged," the source said. "They seem to want to make the case disappear."
The attempted murder case was heard on April 5. But the couple were absent. They had not been made aware. The case has since been referred to the Rustenburg Regional Court, but will be heard at the Koster Magistrate's Court on May 22.
The couple worked three times a week for the farmer before the shooting incident.
They only became aware of the hearing after Sowetan alerted them of the next court appearance.
The man said the farmer had sent him to a nearby bottlestore to buy a bottle of brandy.
"I had an eerie feeling that he was up to something," he said.
"I came back quickly from the bottlestore, which caught him by surprise. I then saw my wife running out of the house. She was half-naked. I asked her why she was half-naked, and she told me that the farmer was trying to rape her - this in front of my daughter, who is five years old."
Enraged, the man put the brandy on the table and confronted the farmer, who was still naked.
"He said to me in Afrikaans: 'Jy rak nou slim'" (You're now becoming clever).
After this, the farmer allegedly produced a firearm. The man bolted out of the house and closed the door behind him. He was shot through the door, and was later taken to hospital where he spent two weeks with the bullet lodged in his thigh. It has since been removed.
North West police spokeswoman Imelda Setlhaku confirmed she was aware of of the case.
"The farmer has been charged with attempted murder and granted bail of R1000," Setlhaku said.
"He was also charged for the violation of the Sexual Offences Act."
Setlhaku told Sowetan that she had been informed by Koster police that it was true that the attempted rape charge had not been registered.
"It is due to be read out when the matter is heard again on May 22." - mahlanguba@sowetan.co.za