Farmer said to have instructed Mapogo to beat up his employees

Members of the notorious Mapogo a Mathamaga security company allegedly beat up two farmworkers they accused of illegal hunting.

The workers, Sam Marakalala and Frans Seakamela, opened cases of assault. They were assaulted at the African Hornbill Safari game farm in Tolwe, near Lephalale, two weeks ago.

Seakamela said six men from the security company beat them up. He said he was dragged into a bakkie and driven a few metres into the bushes where he was repeatedly kicked and punched.

"I have gone to see a doctor twice since the beating because I cannot walk properly and I have trouble urinating," he said. Seakamela said his colleague was swollen around the neck.

Seakamela, who said he had worked at the farm for 12 years, said it was another worker who committed the crime and fled. The workers, who were also fired on Monday following the incidents, said they were wrongfully accused and assaulted at the instruction of farm owner Louis Fouchi.

Yesterday, the police's provincial spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto said they were investigating one case of assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm and another of common assault.

However, Fouchi said the allegations were all lies and that he had only asked the security company to investigate incidents of stock theft on the farm after a few animals went missing.

He said this was after he caught the men red-handed with snares used to trap the animals.

"I did not give anyone permission to assault people. How can I give orders for people to be assaulted?" he said.

mahopoz@sowetan.co.za