Farmer dies in hail of bullets

Polokwane - A cattle farmer was gunned down in a hail of bullets on Tuesday morning outside Lephalale.

Koos Daffue, 46, died less than 3km from his farm, Lith.

He was shot at close range while driving his bakkie.

Johanna Daffue, his mother, told Beeld: “It was a planned murder.”

Daffue had been on his way from the farm at 05:40 to the Medupi power station, where he worked as a contractor.

Ronel Otto, provincial police spokesperson, said Daffue's attackers opened fire on him when he crossed a low-water bridge over the Mogol River.

It is a single lane where only one vehicle at a time can pass.

“It looks like he was ambushed at the bridge,” said Otto.

A severely wounded Daffue drove about 500m further with his Toyota Hilux bakkie, where he lost control, and it overturned.

Bad feelings

Kassie Lubbe, a family member, said 11 shots were fired at Daffue.

“It looks like the attackers, after they shot him on the bridge, ran next to the bakkie and continued shooting.”

Otto said that, after the bakkie overturned, Daffue was shot in the chest five more times.

Beeld was told there had apparently recently been an argument between Daffue and farm workers.

There was reportedly also ill feelings between him and a colleague at the Medupi power station.

Otto said all information is being investigated.

The police's organised crime unit in Limpopo found vehicle tracks and shoe prints near the bakkie. Daffue's shocked mother said people in the area had heard “many shots”.

“People who were on their way to work saw what happened... they called us,” she said tearfully.

Nothing was stolen from Daffue's bakkie.

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copacetic said:

Shame.

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Mila said:

RIP. Hope the mob gets to the futters and burn them too

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Beeld was told there had apparently recently been an argument between Daffue and farm workers.

There was reportedly also ill feelings between him and a colleague at the Medupi power station.

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czc said:

Is that all?

Farmers are the most important part of our nation, yet we kill and chase them away.

We are net importers of grain, now the fires in Russia will affect world grain prices.

Can we not look after our farmers?

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