Limpopo farmer shoots black couple after he ‘mistook’ them for hippos

A 77-year-old White farmer has been arrested for attempted murder after he shot at a group of black fishers on Tuesday, 26 April 2022 in Lephalale, Limpopo.

It is alleged that the suspect fired shots in the direction of the couple that was fishing along Mogol River at around 14:00.

According to police, during the incident, a 38-year-old woman, Linah Motlohelwa sustained a gun wound while her partner managed to hide and he immediately informed the police and emergency services.

Limpopo police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Maphaswa Seabi said the woman was taken to hospital for treatment and the police investigations ensued.

“The arrested suspect alleged that he was shooting at the animals (hippopotamus). Police seized two rifles, one revolver, one pistol and two airguns during the arrest. Police opened cases of attempted murder.”

Limpopo police spokesperson

The injured woman’s partner, Piet Lefawane told SowetanLive that the farmer shot at them twice with the second shot hitting his partner.

Lefawane said they do not know the farmer and he doesn’t know them but he decided to just shoot at them.

“When police went to arrest him, I heard him say that he had been shooting at monkeys and hippos when he shot at us,” he said.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe called upon community members to be responsible while handling their firearms and those who are affected by this incident to stay calm and afford the Police the space to do their investigations.

The suspect is expected to appear before the magistrate court in Lephalale on Thursday, 28 April 2022.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the province condemned the incident.