MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - "Zis is too dangerous here. I cannot believe … I now take shotgun," said the infuriated German pensioner in his broken English, the morning after he and his wife had survived the latest farm attack in the region.

On Monday, June 14, at 17:15, Mr Werner Wiedeck (64) and wife Brigitte (56) were attacked on their plot, Rondebosch Plot 18, on the Vondeling Road. Two armed robbers fired three bullets from a 9mm pistol, two at the couple's watchdog and one at Mrs Wiedeck.

The bullet barely missed Mrs Wiedeck's head. Mr Wiedeck was hit over the head with an iron pipe. Their dog, a boerboel with the name Jaffa, was seriously wounded and is still in bad shape. At the time of going to press, the armed attackers were still at large.

The Wiedecks, who immigrated to South Africa six years ago, said that their ordeal on Monday started when they unexpectedly found Jaffa at the gate when they returned from town. Jaffa, described as the most dangerous dog in the area, was bleeding from his right front paw. They put the dog in the back of the truck and drove to their homestead. On arriving there, they found it strange that none of their employees was around. Then Mr Wiedeck saw one of the armed assailants. He ducked inside the truck and shouted to Brigitte not to get out. She was, however, already out of the truck and busy opening the sliding door to let Jaffa out. Mr Wiedeck ran to the house to fetch his shotgun, but was hit over the head with an iron object, with blood covering his head.

The other assailant grabbed Mrs Wiedeck by the ponytail of her long blonde hair. She resisted and a pistol was pointed at her head by a person wearing a blue jacket and a dark balaclava over his face.

Suddenly, everything happened simultaneously. Jaffa went for the assailant. The assailant fired a shot at Mrs Wiedeck and as she stepped backwards, she fell with her head against the steps of their veranda. The assailant fired another shot at Jaffa, hitting his intestines. Instantaneously, the assailants disappeared.

"He must have thought that he hit me because I lay groaning from the pain in my head and back," Mrs Wiedeck said.

The Wiedecks discovered their three employees behind a corrugated iron shed, their hands and feet bound with cable ties. Anna Makau, Petros Mudau and Julia Nemukula were in a state of shock. They had been threatened with a firearm.

"Our workers refused to go home on Monday evening. They were scared and slept in our truck," said Mrs Wiedeck.

The Wiedecks realized that the muggers had been in their bedroom as well.

"They had scraped through everything and took my cosmetics box outside, probably searching for money," said Mrs Wiedeck.

The telephone landline was out of order but they used the farm radio to summon help.

"I want to thank all the farmers and other people who came and offered help. They were wonderful," said Mrs Wiedeck on Tuesday. She was back at work, selling Country Farm eggs in town. Mr Wiedeck said that the security firm arrived within seven minutes, but that the police took 45 minutes to arrive. The commando was summoned later that evening. The area was searched, but to no avail. The attackers were gone, as was Jaffa. Only at 23:30 did the wounded Jaffa return home.

On Tuesday morning, in the bright sunshine with the tranquil surroundings and housedoors standing wide open, it was hard to imagine the horror of the previous day. A couple of cartridge cases, a hole through the veranda door and splashes of blood all over the paving were silent testimony to a crime that took place in broad daylight. The whimpering of Jaffa in a room on the first floor was a warning that the watchdog was wounded and that doors shouldn't be standing open any more.

"These people are very vulnerable. All the farmers should realize that they could be a target," said military Chaplain, Dr Philip Venter, who visited the survivors later the evening. Dr Venter said that there were speculations that the crime was committed by illegal immigrants.

"The problem of the illegal Zimbabweans is one that we will have to look in the eye. We can't wish it away. We need national and international help for a feeding scheme before they get organized into crime syndicates," said Dr Venter.

Inspector Ndlovu, communication officer of the SAPS Makhado agreed that there are many Zimbabweans in the nearby area. Inspector Ndlovu said a case had been opened on charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. He asked that anybody with possible information that could lead to the arrest of suspects should please contact (015) 519 4300 and ask for Inspector Thsikotshi