PLEASE NOTE: Not for sensitive viewers!

A Hartbeespoort couple endured a terrifying three-hour ordeal when armed attackers invaded their home on a game farm in Broederstroom on Sunday evening, 1 November.
Les Brett and his wife Natashia were brutally assaulted, stabbed and burned with boiling water during a violent farm attack in Broederstroom near Hartbeespoort on Sunday night.

Three armed men overpowered the couple at their home on a game lodge at approximately 19:00.

According to Les the three attackers tied them up before subjecting them to a prolonged assault lasting approximately three hours.

“It was a military style operation. They were well trained and knew exactly what they wanted. The attack started when they hit me in the face with a bolt cutter,” according to Les. “They then tied us up and forced us into a built in safe. They continued to torture us by pouring boiling water over us, stabbing us and demanding money.”

“They kept on shouting:” Where is the millions, where is the millions! “I told them that there is no money on the property”

According to Les the torture continued and they tore Natashia’s clothes off. They stuck the barrel of a AK47 assault rifle in Les’s mouth. “The gunman pulled the trigger but miraculously the gun jammed.”

Les Brett after the attack.

According to Les they threatened to cut off Natashia’s nipples. They also threatened to rape Natashia. However, Les emphasized that some media reported that his wife was raped, these are false.

“We managed to free ourselves from the safe and called for help at 22:30,

The attackers eventually fled the property, taking seven firearms, two cellphones and a laptop stolen from the house.

With more than four decades of experience in the African bush, Brett has devoted much of his life to wildlife conservation, anti-poaching training, bushcraft and environmental education.

Security personnel arrived at the property within minutes and immediately summoned emergency medical services.

A search operation was launched in the surrounding area, with drones deployed in an attempt to locate the fleeing attackers.

Despite the search, the suspects could not be located at the time.

Police confirmed that a case of house robbery had been opened following the attack.

Investigators are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the home invasion, identify those responsible and trace the firearms stolen during the robbery.

Renewed concern over rural safety

This vicious attack has once again placed the safety of residents on farms and smallholdings in the spotlight.

The Broederstroom incident follows another brutal farm attack in North West, in which Ventersdorp farmer Donovan Marx was seriously injured on 28 October.

Police have arrested five suspects in connection with that separate incident.

Residents with information that could assist police in identifying the Broederstroom attackers are encouraged to contact the South African Police Service.

Kormorant will continue to follow developments in the investigation.

Note: Les Brett is a friend and gave his permission to publish these photographs to create awareness of the barbaric brutality of these attackers.

READ MORE about Les Brett.