South Africa: Donovan Marx attacked on his farm by two people, ears cut off and castration threats
WARNING: Distressing content. Two alleged attackers remain at large after ‘barbaric’ attack on farmer.
WARNING: Graphic content.
A cattle farmer is fighting for life in hospital after he was attacked and tortured on his property in South Africa.
Donovan Marx was at his farm near Potchefstroom on Wednesday when he was allegedly attacked by two people after his wife left for work.
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Mr Marx was shot and stabbed in the leg before he collapsed in a pool of blood.
The two men allegedly tortured the 50-year-old and pinned him down while they cut off both of his ears, which were then cut into small pieces.
The pair threatened to castrate the farmer.
When the attackers were disrupted by a rescuer, they fled the scene in Mr Marx’s station wagon. Both remain at large.
Police and paramedics quickly arrived at the farm.
Mr Marx remains in hospital where he is in a critical but stable condition.
Brother-in-law Pieter Steyn said he did not know why Mr Marx was targeted.
“Donovan was shot in the shoulder and stabbed in the leg, and we don’t know why they tortured him,” he said.
“He has not been able to speak to us, and what happened just goes to show once again how brutal farm attacks are in South Africa, and these brutal attacks are out of control.
“The motive clearly isn’t just to steal something – it goes further than that.
‘”The attackers tied up the farm worker, then tortured Donovan, but the worker got free and called for help, which came quickly, and as far as we know the worker is unhurt.”
This is reportedly the second farm attack in the span of a week in the area.
Minister for Agriculture Willie Aucamp condemned the “barbaric” incident.
“I extend my heartfelt prayers and strength to Donovan, his family and the entire agricultural community for the trauma they have endured,” he said in a statement.
“There is no place in our country for such senseless and barbaric acts and as government, we will continue to condemn rural crimes in the strongest possible terms.”
No arrests have been made.
More to come...
