Lani Fouché

Ventersdorp - The motive behind the killing of a farmer from Ventersdorp in North West yesterday morning remains a mystery. 56-year-old Dries du Toit, his wife Lettie and his sister Elizabeth de Villiers, were asleep in their farm house in Klipplaatdrift, when five attackers entered their house at around 4am. Du Toit was killed while trying to fight off the attackers in his bed. Du Toit's brother, Chris du Toit, told OFM News that it seems like he was repeatedly hit on the head with a metal object. Dries' wife, who was in bed next to him, was assaulted, and is recuperating at her sister's house in Pretoria. Chris says she is extremely traumatized. De Villiers was only slightly injured. Chris says his brother, who was also the co-owner of SA Fuel, was loved by the community:

Police are still searching for the suspects. Du Toit leaves behind his wife and two daughters. According to Chris, the two daughters are students at the University of Pretoria, and were at home for the holidays.  "But they were sleeping at a friend's house that night.  We are very relieved," he said.