Four S.A Men Appear In Court After White Farmer's Ears Got Cut Off (Photos)

<b>Four men accused of attacking farmer Donovan Marx appeared in a South African court on Tuesday, 3 November, where it emerged that one had previously lived on his farm.</b><br><br>The state will oppose bail when the accused return to court on Friday, 13 November.<br><br>The four accused were identified as Phindile Nomngcayi, Godfrey Mathipa, Thomas Motlhonglong and Jan Maishone.<br><br><b>They face charges including attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.</b><br><br><b>The court heard that one of the accused previously lived on Marx’s farm,</b> while the other three reside in Promosa, near Potchefstroom.<br><br>State prosecutor Caswell Ntoyi said the accused with links to the property would not be allowed to return there if granted bail.<br><br><b>Magistrate Trevor Leballo postponed the matter to 13 November for a possible bail application.</b><br><br>Police previously arrested five suspects, although only four appeared in court on Tuesday.<br><br>North West police commissioner Lieutenant-General Arthur Peter Adams confirmed that investigators were ready to oppose bail.<br><br>He also thanked the investigation team, led by Captain Bonita Dry, for securing the arrests.<br><br><b>AfriForum (white lobby group) CEO Kallie Kriel joined farmers and community members outside the courthouse to show support for Marx and his family.</b><br><br>Kriel criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for not publicly condemning the attack.<br><br><b>AfriForum also issued a statement on Monday calling on Ramaphosa to condemn farm attacks and the singing of the controversial “Kill the Boer” (white Afrikaner) chant.</b><br><br><b>The US State Department has also condemned what it described as racial incitement following the attack on Marx,</b> calling on South African authorities to denounce the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant and prioritise rural crime.<br><br><b>Marx, 50, was attacked on his Syferfontein farm</b> between Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp on Wednesday, 28 October.<br><br><b>Three armed men allegedly overpowered and tied up a farmworker before confronting Marx</b> when he arrived at the property.<br><br><b>The attackers shot and stabbed Marx before cutting off both his ears.</b><br><br>His family confirmed that <b>he suffered injuries to his kidney and colon and underwent surgery.</b><br><br><b>Marx remains in Mediclinic Potchefstroom, where he is recovering.</b><br><br><b>Officers seized four firearms, two of which were linked to the attack,</b> along with clothing and jewellery.