/ 10 August 1998

Four die in farm attack

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Monday 12.15PM.

FOUR people died on the farm Bosrug, near George in the Cape on Sunday when a lone gunman shot them, poured petrol over them and set them alight.

The attacker is believed to be former farm employee seeking revenge. He demanded ransom money and held a woman hostage before fleeing. A helicopter search for the assailant was called off after nightfall.

Meanwhile the National Party and Freedom Front have reacted angrily to the police intelligence report on farm killings released by President Mandela last week.

There was more to the killings than robbery, the two parties said, adding that the attacks were politically motivated. Since 1994, 554 people have died in farm attacks.

The government has dismissed the claims of political motivation, but the opposition parties have called for a judicial inquiry.