Update

ABERDEEN NEWS - Hard work and persistence from local detectives coupled with the resources and experience of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, has culminated in a lengthy jail sentence for four farm attackers.

The men were convicted of carrying out a farm attack at Makhatees Farm in the Aberdeen district in March 2017.

Lwandile Aseni (24), Floyd Ayanda Nkohla (35), Zwelakhe Mguzulwa (37) and Furgil Freddie Jaxa (31), were each sentenced to 25 years direct imprisonment on Thursday 18 April by the Grahamstown High Court in Makhanda for their roles in the attack on Aberdeen farmer Hannes Gouws (then 45) and his son Jan-Hendrik, who was 14 at the time.

At 06:20 on Friday 31 March 2017, Gouws and his son went to the garage to get the bakkie to fetch the farm workers - a normal start to their day. After Gouws got into the bakkie, he asked Jan-Hendrik to check the tyres. Three men suddenly appeared from behind fuel drums in the corner of the garage. Two went at the youngster with a pipe, leaving the boy battered, but otherwise unharmed.

The third man went to Gouws, put a gun against his head and fired. The bullet entered the top of his jawbone on the right, and exited slightly lower through his left cheek. Gouws fought back and the men fled.

Cool headed
His wife, Alet took her husband and son to Aberdeen Hospital, where both were examined and Gouws stabilised. The attending doctor, Dr Olive Muller, realised immediately that Gouws needed to be transferred to George Mediclinic, and decided that it would be quicker to drive him to George rather than wait for a helicopter to arrive. An ambulance was dispatched from George, and met the doctor and patient just outside Uniondale. Gouws was then transferred to the ambulance, and admitted to ICU on his arrival.

Ten days after the attack, Gouws underwent surgery to repair his shattered jaw, and it was over a month before he could eat any solid food. Two years later, he is still awaiting completion of the dental implants needed to replace his shattered teeth. Medical aid has covered the majority of the hospital expenses, but Gouws has also had to dig deep in his own pocket.

However, he is alive, and will forever be thankful to God for what the doctors described as a miracle. Despite being fired at point-blank range, the bullet did not pass through any arteries or veins.

Manhunt
Jan-Hendrik Gouws, who attends boarding school in Graaff-Reinet, was not seriously injured, but battled to sleep in the months after the assault.

On the day of the attack, all available members of SAPS from Aberdeen, both uniform and detective branches, together with police from Graaff-Reinet and members of the K9 unit, scoured the area. A police helicopter was also called, and assisted in the search, as did many local farmers and members of the community. Three men were initially arrested the same morning, one of whom was identified by farm workers, and later by the younger Gouws. However charges against him were later dropped, and the investigation seemed to reach a dead end.

Breakthrough
Head of the Aberdeen detective branch, Detective Warrant Officer Willie van Zyl, pursued many leads over the next few months, and a breakthrough occurred early in October 2017. 

Acting on new information received, van Zyl and Detective Warrant Officer Naude Frazenburg, together with members of the Hawks, held an operation in the George area. This led to the arrest of two suspects. 

The two men, Lwandile Aseni and another man (35), were arrested in the George area on 4 October. Aseni was arrested for attempted murder, and the second suspect for conspiracy to commit a crime. The second man subsequently turned state witness, and the Hawks, with better resources, agreed to take over the case. 

Within weeks, Nkohla, Mguzulwa and Jaxa were arrested in George. Nkohla was employed by Gouws as a long distance driver at the time of the farm attack, and during the four years of his employment, had been friendly and never gave cause for concern. However, investigations revealed that he was the one who supplied Aseni, Mguzulwa and Jaxa with information relating to Makhatees Farm.

Sentence
The four were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three years for house breaking with intent to steal, five years for attempted robbery, a total of 16 years’ imprisonment for two counts of attempted murder, six years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and six years for unlawful possession of ammunition. This gives a combined total of 39 years, and Aseni, Nkohla, Mguzulwa and Jaxa will effectively serve 25 years direct imprisonment.

It is understood that the men will be appealing the sentence in court next month.

Sterling work
The National Head of the DPCI, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has welcomed the hefty jail sentences and says their conviction and subsequent sentence are consequent to a sterling investigative work by a dedicated team of committed members.

Members of the Hawks involved in the investigation expressed thanks to van Zyl for his persistence in the case, and he in turn he commended the Hawks on securing the conviction.

The Aberdeen Farmers’ Association commends the efforts of the police and prosecuting authority and says it has found renewed trust in the justice system.

Following the attack, Gouws implemented increased security measures at the farm. He finds that he is much more aware now of what is happening around him, and is alert to small signs that could indicate that something is wrong. If his dogs are restless or bark unexpectedly, he now always investigates. Understandably, the experience has left him less willing to trust people.

He is satisfied with the sentences, and feels that justice has been served.

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