Farm Attack: Farmer and family held up during Eskom load shedding

A farmer and his family were held up at gunpoint on their farm outside Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal in the latest farm attack on Monday night.

Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament and Uthukela Constituency Head, Alf Lees said five armed men had attacked John, Malcom and Doreen Moore on their farm, Moor Park, at around 21:30 during Eskom’s load shedding.

 “John, Malcom and Doreen Moor were apparently held at gunpoint and strangely handcuffs were apparently used to immobilise them in a locked room,” Lees said.

It is unclear at this stage what was stolen in the robbery.

He said that the Moore family had farmed peacefully on Moor Park Farm for many generations. 

“Despite having a very volatile Wembezi township as their neighbours and where political strife and murders were prevalent for decades the Moore family maintained a good relationship with their neighbours,” Lees said.

 “It is therefore sad that in the modern democratic era, political parties like the ANC and EFF have reverted to race politics that has undoubtedly created increased friction and resentment in our communities who have lived together in peace for generations,” he said.

He condemned the latest farm attack and extended his party’s sympathies to the family as they recover from the trauma.

Farm attack facilitated by load shedding

“The attack was facilitated by the Eskom load-shedding that was on at the time and which had shut down some cell phone networks where cell phone tower backup batteries had been stolen,” Lees said.

He said that the ANC needed to take responsibility for the malfeasance that led to the destruction of Eskom’s generation capacity, causing power blackouts and leading to communication and security failures.

“The police must ensure that the perpetrators are caught charged, convicted and spend a considerable time incarcerated. Unlike convicted Jacob Zuma who spent a few comfortable days in the Estcourt jail, they must not at any stage be granted parole,” Lees said.

A spokesperson for the SAPS had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.