By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
15 October 2026 – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West demands urgent action after the brutal farm murder of Hannetjie van Zyl (55), near Ottosdal. The DA said rural communities deserve effective, responsive policing.
DA provincial leader and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West Provincial Legislature, Freddy Sonakile said they call for stronger rural policing and equal protection for all. Sonakile said DA demands urgent intervention following another shocking and brutal farm murder in the Ottosdal/Wolmaransstad area on 5 October 2026.
“The brutal and vicious murder of van Zyl took place at the entrance security gate to her farmhouse. Criminals attacked her from behind, striking her several times on the neck and head with an iron bar before stealing her handbag and cell phone.
“She had opened the gate and was getting back into her vehicle to enter her property when she was attacked. Her husband, Sarel van Zyl, found her brutally battered body. He immediately reported the incident to the agricultural security groups, which remain the only immediate response mechanism available to many farming communities in the North West,” he said.
Sonakile further said Hannetjie van Zyl was a very kind-hearted person who was well-known in the communities of Ottosdal, Migdol and Wolmaransstad. He added that tragically, she lost her life on the way to hospital in Klerksdorp.
“Her death is a stark example of the systemic failures that continue to deny justice, safety and security to rural communities in the North West. Her family, friends and the wider community demand decisive action and a thorough investigation by SAPS.
“The failure to adequately fulfil its mandated safety and security obligations in rural areas is placing the lives and livelihoods of farmers, farm workers and rural communities at increasing risk.
SAPS Ottosdal, approximately 17 kilometres from the farm, was contacted and only arrived at the scene an hour later,” said Sonakile.
He alleged that, according to the family, police indicated that they did not regard the incident as a farm attack, but rather as the theft of a handbag, despite the fact that a woman had been brutally beaten and ultimately lost her life. Sonakile said the reality of brutal farm attacks and murders must be acknowledged and acted upon.
“These crimes must be treated as a priority because recognition without action is meaningless. The DA’s position is clear that rural safety requires a properly resourced and accountable policing system that recognises the unique challenges faced by farming communities.
“The DA supports stronger provincial policing capacity, improved cooperation between SAPS, provincial government, local government, farmers and rural safety structures, and dedicated resources to ensure that police can respond swiftly and effectively to crimes in rural areas,” he said.
