South African farmer survives assault after attackers cut off his ears

Violence on South African farms has drawn fresh attention after five men were detained for their roles in a violent robbery that left a 50-year-old cattle farmer hospitalized with severe injuries.

Donovan Marx was attacked last Wednesday at his property in Ventersdorp, a small town in the North West province. Police said a group of masked men arrived armed with guns while a worker was mowing the lawn. The intruders bound the worker with cable ties and questioned him about Marx’s location.

When Marx returned to the house, two of the suspects allegedly approached him and fired shots into his upper body. They then dragged him inside, tied his limbs with cable ties, and stabbed him. During the search of the home, the group took three firearms from a safe and fled in Marx’s van. The worker eventually freed himself and called for help.

Marx was rushed to the hospital, where he remains. Local news outlet IOL reported that surgeons were unable to save his ears, meaning he may require prosthetics. His wife and family welcomed the arrests of the five suspects over the weekend and stated that the legal process must now take its course.

The incident sparked widespread reaction across the country. Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp condemned the event as a senseless and barbaric act with no place in South Africa. Ian Cameron, chair of the parliamentary police committee, praised the speed of the arrests and called for a strong, properly investigated case.

The five suspects, aged between 26 and 56, face charges of house robbery, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. They are scheduled to appear in local courts on Tuesday.

Right-wing groups have often cited attacks on white Afrikaner farmers to support claims of genocide, a narrative widely discredited by South African political parties. US President Donald Trump has previously offered asylum to white Afrikaners. Recent police statistics for April through June 2026 recorded only one rural robbery, while data indicate that the majority of crime victims in South Africa are Black.