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Ria Vogelsang, 68, husband Jannie 77 survive brutal attack by three black gunmen, Dec 13 2010 on farm Arran, Bethlehem http://www.volksblad.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Dit-is-net-genade-ons-leef-20101215



Dec 16 2010 – VOLKSBLAD journalist M J Lourens reports from Bethlehem, Free State: “It is only by the grace of God that we are still alive today because our attackers were planning to kill us,’ said farm attack victim Mrs Ria Vogelsang, 68.



She was attacked the previous day with her husband Jannie, 77 and her sister Hettie Hechter, 85, by three armed black men. Her sister was visiting them on their farm Arran.

Mrs Vogelsang had opened the front door to the gang at 7:30pm -- because she believed their foreman George Oosthuizen – who eats with the old folk every evening – was ringing the door bell as he does every night: somebody clearly knew their routine. One armed black man grabbed the old lady by her shirt and shoved her into the homestead. She screamed and was pistol-whipped across the mouth. Then Mr Vogelsang, who was watching TV, was accosted by another gunman who told him in Afrikaans “we want money.’ They weren’t happy with the small amount of cash the old couple had on them, only R1,400 and wanted more. They angrily threw her against their Christmas tree. “I was just thrown amongst the angels,’she said. Old Mrs Hechter, who is deaf, only realised at a late stage what was going on. She struggled to her feet and hid behind the couch while the gunmen forced the Vogelsang couple to unlock their empty safe. She gave them her costume-jewellery. The men just didn’t believe that the couple had nothing of value to steal and took out a roll of tape one carried in their pants. “Then I realised they were probably going to kill us and pushed the panic button,’ she said. The loud wailing scared them so badly that they dropped her trinkets and ran off. Mrs Vogelsang was very angry afterwards: “I am furious. They dare to do these things to us inside our own home,’ she fumed.

She was released from the Hoogland Mediclinic at Bethlehem after wounds around her mouth received stitches. The elderly Mr Vogelsang said he felt very helpless throughout their ordeal. “It’s the most horrible thing in the world when your wife is thrown to the ground and you can’t do anything because some guy is holding a rifle to your head.’

“We are grateful to the Lord that we are alive and He looked after his children.’Nobody was arrested. http://www.volksblad.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Dit-is-net-genade-ons-leef-20101215

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