Marais Francois

Francois was at home with his wife Ina and their three young sons, Francois (4), Markus (3) and Konraad (2). Before the attackers entered the house, another worker had apparently been confronted and tied up. A second worker who had taken the bakkie was also attacked. The three men then entered the kitchen. one attacker had a firearm and the other two had large knives. Francois confronted them. He threw a glass at the man with the firearm and physically attacked him. Ina threw boiling water toward the other two attackers while trying to protect the children. During the struggle, Francois was shot and stabbed several times. One bullet penetrated his left lung, causing such extensive damage that surgeons had to remove the lung. The bullet remained lodged in his spine because doctors decided not to remove it at that stage. He underwent another operation on the Friday but remained critically ill. Francois died on Saturday, 17 September 2011, two days after the attack. Significantly, it was also the third birthday of his son Markus. The attackers fled without stealing anything. The contemporary account says it was not clear at that point whether police had opened a murder docket.