Elderly Farmer Trapped in Car Trunk as Free State Farm Attacks Continue

Free State Agriculture (FSA) expresses its shock over two farm attacks that took place in the Free State this past weekend.

In the first incident, a 72-year-old female farmer, who farms alone in the Bultfontein area, was overtaken and assaulted in her home on Friday evening at around 18:00. She was then locked in the boot of her own car and transported by her attacker in the direction of Bloemfontein. The vehicle broke down near Soutpan, after which the attacker simply left her by the side of the road, still locked in the boot.

The farmer lay trapped in the boot again for almost a full day in the sweltering heat, until she was discovered on Saturday afternoon. A police officer from Bultfontein noticed the vehicle at 07:45 on Saturday morning, but only investigated when he returned later that afternoon at 17:15. The officer was off duty, but investigated nonetheless. When the lady heard footsteps, she called for help and was eventually freed — exhausted, dehydrated, and traumatized.

In a second incident, a 56-year-old farmer from the Clocolan area was overtaken and seriously assaulted by three attackers in his farmhouse on Sunday afternoon at around 18:00. One of the attackers apparently wanted to shoot the farmer, but was stopped by the others. The farmer was then repeatedly stabbed with knives. The attackers fled with cash and firearms. The farmer managed to free himself and moved to the workers’ houses. The workers helped him raise the necessary alarm.

Free State Agriculture would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to the South African Police Service for their swift action in both cases. Investigations are ongoing.

Farm Attacks in 2025

According to Dr Jane Buys, Safety Risk Analyst of FSA, there were 27 farm attacks and 7 murders in the Free State in the calendar year 2025. In the 7 farm murder incidents, in one case a farmer, a visitor and in 5 incidents workers on farms were murdered. Arrests were made in 5 incidents. (In December there were 6 farm attack incidents in the Free State).

In the 27 farm attacks, 12 farmers and in some cases their wives, 12 farm workers including security guards and herders were attacked. There were also 3 incidents where visitors and or residents on farms were also targeted in farm attacks. Arrests were made in 11 incidents. In 6 towns there were 2 to 4 farm attack/murder incidents, namely Bloemfontein, Clarens, Smithfield, Virginia, Warden and Wepener.

Call on farmers to get involved

“We once again urgently appeal to all farmers, young and old, to actively form part of their local safety structures, including farm guards, radio systems and safety initiatives. Safety cannot be ignored or postponed. Cooperation and vigilance are currently our only shield against this atrocity” says Dr Buys.

Free State Agriculture reiterates its call to the authorities to treat rural safety as a priority and to ensure that the necessary resources, manpower and actions, as backed by the National Rural Safety Strategy, are put in place. The lives, dignity and safety of farmers, their families and workers on farms can no longer be considered negotiable.