A six-year-old boy who suffered two broken legs when a farmer allegedly rammed into him for stealing an orange in South Africa screamed: ‘Mummy… I’m going to die’, his mother has revealed in court.
Christoffel Johannes Stoman, 70, first appeared in the Vredendal Magistrate’s Court on Monday on two charges of attempted murder and a charge of reckless and negligent driving.
Stoman was arrested by Lutzville police after Kwezi Beukes, six, was hit by his vehicle that had a trailer attached while he was walking with his mother, Magdalene Jantijies, on September 20.
Magdalene explained that her son was having nightmares about the tragic incident after he was pinned to the fence by the vehicle as his legs were crushed under the tyres.
Recalling the horrific scenes, she said: ‘He said: ‘Ouch, Mommy… I’m going to die!’ And the child screamed, he screamed and I said: ‘It will all be alright, Khwezi.”
Christoffel Johannes Stoman, 70, appears in the Vredendal magistrates court on accusations of deliberately running over Khwezi Jantjies, a six-year-old child
Khwezi had both of his legs broken after allegedly stealing an orange from Stoman’s farm in Lutzville, in Vredendal, South Africa
Khwezi’s mother Magdalene Jantjies watched on in horror as her son was crushed by Stoman’s vehicle
The farmer accused Khwezi of snatching an orange from his farm and as punishment, the elderly man allegedly mowed down the little boy – causing him horrific injuries including two broken legs.
Following the brutal incident, Stoman allegedly showed no remorse and told police he ‘would do it again’.
Khwezi and his mother were dashed to local Vredendal Hospital before being transferred to Paarl Hospital – where the young boy is undergoing treatment to save his legs.
He is due to have surgery on Wednesay, according to his heartbroken mother.
Magdalene said she and her son had been walking past the accused farmer’s smallholding when making their way to town to do some food shopping, EWN reported.
The little boy reportedly stopped to pick up an orange that was on the ground before attempting to reach through a fence and grab another one – that was also on the ground.
The distraught mother recalled the tragic incident, saying she heard Stoman yell before ramming into her and her son, pinning them against a fence.
Magdalene told eCNA: ‘He came from around the corner and he was driving at a speed.
‘He shouted ‘stand there, stand there,’ I thought he was going to stop. He aimed directly at us in a corner, and I screamed, Help! Help!
‘He said, ‘I’m going to kill you by driving into you’.
People protest outside Vredendal magistrates court ahead of farmer, Christoffel Stoman’s appearance
Stoman allegedly told police he ‘would do it again’ following the incident
The case has caused uproar within the community, as locals have stepped forward to claim that this is not the first incident of its kind that Stoman has been involved in.
Billy Claasen of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation is now begging lawmakers to toughen the consequences on farmers committing crimes.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed the State had opposed Stoman’s release.
‘He will stay in custody and will appear on Monday in the Vredendal Magistrate’s Court,’ he said.
‘The State has indicated that it will oppose bail in this case. We welcome this development.
‘We visited the crime scene, and there is no way that this boy could have gained access to the orchard over that fence.
‘The suspect should answer in a court of law for this reckless behaviour.’
Magdalene said her and Khwezi would now focus on his recovery and have plans to receive counselling after the traumatic event.
She added: ‘I aim to continue with this case. I want to proceed by the grace of God, as long as I can stand here.’
