An Unfortunate Incident Taken Out Of Proportion

A very unfortunate incident that took place in the Letsitele area has been taken out of proportion and is causing a lot of damage!

Mr Johan Potgieter, a 47-year- old white male from the Letsitele area, a MISSIONARY with Operation Mobilization (a global missionary organisation) and is not a farmer as reported.

Mr Potgieter is renting a house on a farm in the Letsitele area; he is not the owner of the farm and is not involved in any agricultural activities on the farm.

On Wednesday, 8 March 2017 Mr Potgieter was trying to scare the vervet monkeys away from his home. He was shooting in their direction without aiming to actually kill them. At that specific moment a farm worker pushed his bicycle around the corner when the accident happened. The pellet struck the farm worker’s head but no serious damage was caused. Mr Potgieter immediately rushed to his aid and called for medical assistance.

Mr Potgieter is an active member of the community and is also supporting the cause to fix the current electricity crises affecting the area.

Agri Letaba regrets what happened, but it was a freak accident and nothing more. Agri Letaba appeals to all farmers, the general public, the authorities and the media not to react before all the facts are known. The initial SAPS report is also being questioned, as the incident wasn’t accurately reported.

Agri Letaba is appealing for calm and rational behaviour, from its members and the community in general, during this tense time.

According to unconfirmed information, the worker has already been discharged from hospital and is out of danger.

Agri Letaba regrets this event and sympathizes with both parties involved.