{
  "id": 17222182,
  "title": "‘We trust in the Lord', says wife of Ventersdorp farmer who was shot, stabbed and had his ears slashed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/we-trust-in-the-lord-says-wife-of-ventersdorp-farmer-who-was-shot",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T12:16:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/news/2026-10-30-we-trust-in-the-lord-says-wife-of-ventersdorp-farmer-who-was-shot-stabbed-and-had-his-ears-slashed/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Louise Marx, the wife of a North West cattle farmer, has expressed gratitude for the prayers of South Africans as her husband Donovan Marx recuperates from a brutal attack on their farm. The attack, which gained international attention, occurred on Wednesday morning near Ventersdorp. During the assault, Marx, aged 50, was shot, stabbed, and had his ears sliced off by armed intruders.\n\nThe family, through their lawyers, Steyn du Toit Incorporated, stated that Marx is currently in stable condition at Mediclinic Potchefstroom's critical care unit. Louise emphasized the family's trust in God for strength and healing. Their top priority is Marx's recovery, and they request the public to refrain from speculation about the incident, allowing the police to conduct the investigation.\n\nThe attack took place on the Marx family's farm, where a farmworker was mowing the lawn when three masked men, armed with firearms, emerged from behind the house. The men demanded to know the location of the farm owner before tying the worker's hands and feet and taking him to the back of the house. Upon Marx's arrival, two assailants fired at him, and he was subsequently dragged into the house, where they stabbed and assaulted him. The intruders also stole three firearms from the house.\n\nNorth West police spokesperson Captain Majang Skalkie confirmed that the attackers fled the scene in Marx's Isuzu bakkie. Police have launched investigations into house robbery and attempted murder, but no arrests have been made yet. Agriculture minister Willie Aucamp condemned the brutal act and pledged the government's commitment to condemning such violent crimes.",
  "summary": "The wife of a North West cattle farmer whose ears were cut off by attackers on their farm has thanked South Africans for their prayers, saying the family is trusting in the Lord to heal him.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}