BREAKING | Donovan Marx farm attack: TWO arrested after ears cut off

WARNING: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence and injuries that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.

North West police have arrested two suspects following the brutal farm attack on cattle farmer Donovan Marx, 50, who was shot and had both ears cut off.

Police confirmed the arrests on Saturday, 31 October, three days after armed men attacked Marx on his farm in Syferfontein, near Ventersdorp.

North West police commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams welcomed the breakthrough and praised the investigating team for its swift efforts.

Police have not disclosed the suspects’ identities, ages or when they will appear in court.

Farmer shot during robbery

According to police, three armed men wearing balaclavas confronted a farmworker who was mowing the lawn on Wednesday, 28 October, at approximately 08:30.

The attackers allegedly threatened the worker with firearms before tying his hands and feet with cable ties.

When Marx arrived in his red Isuzu bakkie, two of the men approached and shot him.

They dragged him into the farmhouse, restrained him and allegedly stabbed and assaulted him.

The suspects stole three firearms from a safe before fleeing in Marx’s bakkie.

The farmworker managed to free himself and raise the alarm.

Marx remains in intensive care

Marx remains in a stable but serious condition at Mediclinic Potchefstroom.

His family confirmed on Saturday that surgeons could not save his ears and that he may require prosthetic reconstruction in future.

The farmer was also shot in the back, with the bullet passing through a kidney. Surgeons removed part of his large intestine following injuries sustained during the attack.

His wife, Louise, and the family have appealed for privacy and urged the public to stop spreading unverified claims about his injuries.

They also asked people not to speculate about potential suspects or investigative leads.

FF Plus condemns brutal attack

Freedom Front Plus leader Corné Mulder condemned the attack in a statement issued on Wednesday, calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritise farm murders and rural safety.

Mulder said farm attacks frequently involved extreme violence and torture and should not be dismissed as ordinary crime.

The party accused Ramaphosa of failing to give sufficient attention to farm attacks and called for stronger action against incitement to violence targeting farmers.

The FF Plus also expressed its sympathy to Marx and his family and wished him a full recovery.

Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp also condemned the attack, warning that violent crime in rural communities threatened farmers, farmworkers and the country’s food security.

#DoAUpdate | The Minister of Agriculture, Willie Aucamp, has strongly condemned the attack on cattle farmer Donovan Marx (50), who is still in hospital after being brutally attacked and tortured on his farm between Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.… pic.twitter.com/6xmka1VFUA

— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA)

October 29, 2026

Police investigation continues

Police have not confirmed whether they are searching for a third suspect following Saturday’s arrests.

Investigators have also not disclosed whether they recovered the firearms stolen during the robbery.

Further details are expected as the investigation continues.