Free State police have identified the elderly couple murdered on a farm in Glen, outside Bloemfontein as 76-year-old Christo Morrisen and his 73-year-old wife Christa.
The couple was killed on the Rietfontein farm on Saturday night.
Police Spokesperson Mahlomola Kareli says a neighbour called officers after being unable to reach the couple on their cell phones.
Kareli adds that the police are currently searching for the suspects.
Free State Agriculture has urged farmers to exercise caution when hiring farm workers.The organization advises farmers to screen employees, know their addresses, and advise them not to share information about farm operations.
Dr. Jane Buys, the organization’s Safety and Risk Analyst, says they have observed that information is often unknowingly shared with criminals.
“If we look at the analysis, we have done in the past eight to nine years, about 40% of farm murder arrests are carried out by SAPS; it may be even higher. However, it is still important for farming communities to ensure they have trustworthy people on their farms. Workers should also undergo screening and criminal record checks.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province has attributed the rise in farm murders to what it calls the “inadequate performance of African National Congress (ANC) policies on policing.”
In a statement, DA Free State premier candidate, Roy Jankielsohn says, “The most effective deterrent against crime is the assurance that the state’s criminal justice system will apprehend and prosecute criminals.”
“The centralization of the police force under an inept central government, which manipulates law enforcement for political gain, has led to the gradual breakdown of policing in South Africa.”
