A farmer in South Africa’s Limpopo province has been arrested on allegations of assaulting two of his employees whom he had chained to a storeroom roof after accusing them of stealing liquor.

The 36 year old farmer from Thabazimbi is said to have tied the workers a man and a woman to the roof of his Sweethome Lodge.

The farmer who cannot be named as he is still to appear in court had initially accused the two workers of stealing but did not specify what items had been stolen.

The victims were identified as Lucky Mafoka, 31, and Morongwa Joyce Sekoba, 34.
Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo said that preliminary investigations had revealed that the victims’ “sin” was to drink the liquor left over by patrons at the lodge.

Mojapelo said the farmer tied the two together to the roof of the storeroom, assaulted them and poured water over them.

The two were rescued by members of a security company who had gone to the lodge after being called by the farmer.

Concerned at the treatment that was meted out to the workers, the guards took the two to a local police station for them to open a case.

Mafoka and Sekoba had spent the night dangling from chains on the rafters.
Their hands were swollen when they were rescued.

Mojapelo said the farmer is still to appear court as police were still investigating the matter before formally charging him.

“The 36-year-old farmer arrested in connection with chaining two of his employees to a roof will be charged formally today.

“He will face two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm,” Mojapelo said.

“We are worried that people could go through such a harsh punishment for helping themselves to leftovers.

“But we will do our utmost best to get to the bottom of the matter to find out the real motive for the farmer’s actions.”