Gert Paulus Van Zuydam

In September 1999, a 73-year old farmer in the Weenen district was shot dead while opening the gates of his farm in the middle of the afternoon. The suspects took his revolver, but left both his bakkie and a considerable amount of cash that was lying in the glove compartment of his bakkie. A reward for information leading to the conviction of the perpetrators was advertised. Following up information received from members of the public, the Greytown murder and robbery unit arrested three men six weeks after the murder. All were between 20 and 24 years old. All lived on traditional land on the outskirts of the Weenen district. None had any direct connection to the farm. However, it appears that the perpetrators had inside information on the farmer’s movements. The farmer had been dipping cattle that day, an activity that required him to return to his farm house during the course of the afternoon, something he seldom does. Investigators surmised that a labourer assisting in the cattle dipping process informed the suspects of the farmer’s movements. Several labourers were interviewed by detectives, but nothing followed from the interviews.

Investigators believe the suspects intended to sell the gun in the Weenen area. They failed to take the bakkie, investigators believe, because they were amateurs and had no idea where they might sell it. It is well-known that there is fierce demand for firearms in the Midlands area. According to investigators, even in the poorest of informal settlements, a 9mm handgun can fetch a price of five or six goats. A stolen firearm is thus a source of formidable wealth — relatively speaking — for some of the destitute who live in informal settlements in the Midlands.

• from: https://web.archive.org/web/20061012062859/http://www.iss.co.za/Pub...