SAPS ups its game in response to KZN farm murders

After being accused of dragging its heels in responding to the scene of a double farm murder in KwaZulu-Natal’s Paulpietersburg area earlier this month, the SAPS has responded with quick arrests.

- Advertisement -

The KZN police said three suspects aged between 27 and 52 had been arrested for allegedly robbing and murdering husband and wife Nico and Marsha Lens on Groenvlei Farm earlier this month.

Officers of the Newcastle Task Team traced the suspects to Mpumalanga, where they were reportedly found in possession of a revolver said to have been stolen from the Lens farm, said a statement issued by the KZN SAPS.

Koos Marais of Kwanalu’s security desk said he was delighted to hear of the arrests, which reaffirmed the confidence in the abilities of police to attend to murders of this nature.

- Advertisement -

“We again call on farmers to take extreme precautionary measures due to the nature of these violent attacks,” said Marais. “Human rights mean nothing to criminals.”

KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni praised her police officials for the arrests and said the matter would be further investigated to determine if the suspects were linked to any other crimes.

Meanwhile, no arrests have been made yet in another early September farm murder in KZN. Media reports indicated that part-time smallholder fruit farmer Rajpaul Andhee (62) was shot and killed, while his wife was seriously wounded, on their property near Stanger.

“We can confirm that KwaDukuza Police Station is investigating charges of murder and attempted murder,” said police spokesperson Captain Thulani Zwane.

Zwane said that the motive for the murder and attempted murder of the Andhee couple was not yet known.