A prompt, coordinated response by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), private security companies, and neighbouring farmers led to the arrest of two suspects following a house robbery on a farm in the Smithfield area.
On Sunday, 3 August 2025, at about 13:30, an elderly couple, aged 78 and 81, arrived at their farm after attending church. The wife entered the house, leaving her husband outside. While approaching the kitchen door, she was overpowered by two unknown suspects. They assaulted her, threatened her with knives, and forced her back to where her husband was still approaching the house. The suspects then forced both victims into the house and tied them up with cable ties.
The house was ransacked, and the suspects took cellphones, cash, jewellery, and also forced the husband to make a money deposit. The suspects then pushed the husband into his own vehicle and drove off with him. They later abandoned him in the driveway of the farm before fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle.
The victims activated local farmers and contacted the police, who responded swiftly. Soon after the incident, two men, aged 29 and 36, were arrested on the road to Bethulie. Cash and the stolen vehicle were recovered.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, has tasked the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit with leading a comprehensive investigation. Forensic experts have already processed the crime scenes.
The suspects remain in custody and face charges of house robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of suspected stolen property.
Lieutenant General Motswenyane expressed her sincere appreciation to the farmers, private security, and responding SAPS members for their rapid action. “The seamless cooperation between the community, our rural safety partners, and SAPS units ensured these suspects were taken off the streets before sunset. This is a textbook example of integrated rural safety.”
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided in due course.