Couple Attacked With Spades In Their Mpumalanga Farm House After Load Shedding

An Mpumalanga couple is recovering in hospital after an unknown number of criminals entered their farm home and attacked them with a spade on Thursday night.


According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Leonard Hlathi, Gerhard Kunneke (aged between 58 and 60) and his wife Lynette, 57, were attacked at the Macadamia farm in the Kingstonvale area near Mbombela around 21:00.

"Kunneke went out of his house to shut down his generator after load shedding. We suspect three or five suspects attacked him and dragged him into his house. They tied both him and his wife, Lynette, up and beat them with a spade," said Hlathi on Friday.

Local security company Hi-Tech Security was first on the scene, a News24 correspondent reported.

The company's general manager Vernon Lancaster said Gerhard was first hit with a spade, followed by Lynette, who was also hit in the face with a spade and forced to open the house safe.

"They took the couple’s firearms, televisions and cellphones. Our ambulance transported the couple to Nelspruit Medi-Clinic where they are being treated," said Lancaster.

Lancaster has warned families owning generators to ensure that they are kept in a well-lit area.

"If it is possible, set an automatic transmission that will cut power to the generator as soon as Eskom power is restored. This will save you from having to go outside the safety of your house and switch the generator off," said Lancaster.

Hlathi said police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact Colonel Erhard Stroh on 079 497 78

-News24