A couple in South Africa endured hours of brutal torture during a home invasion at their game farm last weekend. Les Brett, 67, and his wife Natasha, 68, were attacked by three armed and masked men at their Broederstroom property on Sunday evening.
The assailants stripped the couple naked, beat them, and burned them with boiling water for approximately three hours, reportedly attempting to force them to reveal the location of a safe. Mr. Brett was allegedly threatened with an AK-47 rifle placed in his mouth.
According to reports, the attackers used bolt cutters to cut Mrs. Brett's nipples and repeatedly threatened to rape her. The ordeal concluded when Mr. Brett surrendered the keys to the safe.
The robbers fled with seven firearms, ammunition, two mobile phones, a laptop, and cash. The couple alerted emergency services, who arrived shortly after.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent farm raids in South Africa. Less than a week prior, farmer Donovan Marx was severely beaten and had both his ears severed during a raid on his farm in Syferfontein, about 35 miles from Broederstroom. In that attack, three armed men confronted a farmworker before shooting Mr. Marx, dragging him inside, and assaulting him.
Police have made arrests in connection with the attack on Donovan Marx. However, no arrests have been announced for the raid on the Bretts' farm.
Authorities are investigating the incident as a house robbery. The stolen firearms are considered a potential danger, as they may be used in further crimes. Mr. Brett is a former member of the Special Forces and Police Service and founded an anti-poaching and wildlife conservation school.