Western Cape Minister condemns brutal attack on Stellenbosch farming couple

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has strongly condemned the violent attack on a farming couple at Neethlingshof Farm on Polkadraai Road near Stellenbosch.

The attack took place on the evening of 24 July 2026 when three armed suspects allegedly forced their way into the couple’s home.

According to reports, the assailants, who were wearing balaclavas and carrying crowbars, assaulted the husband and wife before stealing items from the residence. Both victims sustained serious injuries and were admitted to hospital, with the husband reportedly undergoing emergency surgery.

Marais described the attack as a “cruel and senseless act of violence” and called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to use all available investigative and intelligence resources to identify and arrest those responsible.

“Those responsible must be identified, arrested, prosecuted and, if convicted, receive sentences that reflect the gravity of these crimes,” she said.

The Minister warned that attacks on farming communities extend beyond the immediate victims, highlighting their broader impact on South Africa’s agricultural sector.

“An attack on a farmer or farm worker is not merely an attack on an individual or a family. It is an attack on South Africa’s food security and the livelihoods that sustain our economy and communities,” Marais said.

She added that the Western Cape’s agricultural industry remains a cornerstone of the provincial economy and that violent crime targeting rural communities threatens both lives and economic resilience.

The Western Cape Government said it remains committed to improving safety in rural areas through its Rural Safety Strategy, implemented in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, SAPS, municipalities, organised agriculture, Community Policing Forums, neighbourhood and farm watch structures, and local farming communities.

Marais said the incident highlights the need for stronger collaboration between law enforcement agencies and rural communities, improved intelligence sharing, enhanced policing capacity, and additional policing resources in farming areas.

She also urged farmers, farm workers and rural residents to remain vigilant by reporting suspicious people, unfamiliar vehicles and unusual activity to SAPS or local rural safety structures as quickly as possible.

Police investigations into the attack are ongoing, and no arrests have been announced.