"Shout Out to the Worker": CoolStoryBru's Coverage of Farm Attack in North West Sparks Outrage

• A North West farmer was attacked and tortured on his property in broad daylight while a family member had briefly left the farm
• A farm worker who was tied up by the attackers managed to break free and raise the alarm before the suspects fled in the farmer's vehicle
• Content creator CoolStoryBru shared the story and sparked fierce debate online about rural safety and farm attacks in South Africa

A North West farmer is fighting for his life in hospital after being attacked and tortured on his property in what witnesses described as a brutal and deeply disturbing assault. Donovan Marx was attacked at his farm in broad daylight.

The assault reportedly began shortly after 8 a.m., just after a family member had left the property. A farm worker who was on site was tied up by the attackers but managed to free himself and raise the alarm. The suspects then fled the scene in Marx's vehicle and had not been found at the time of reporting. He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Potchefstroom.

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Content creator @CoolStoryBru shared footage covering the attack on Instagram, amplifying the story to a wide audience and describing some of the details as too graphic to share publicly. The post spread quickly, drawing thousands of responses from South Africans deeply disturbed by both the violence and what many saw as a lack of adequate protection for farmers. Many commenters questioned why attacks of this nature continue without harsher consequences. Watch the coverage that sparked the online debate:

Mzansi discuss Donovan Marx farm attack

South Africans in the comments did not hold back:

One user wrote:

"Most of the time, maids working for these families are involved in these robberies. They know everything about the household. Praying for the gentleman's speedy recovery 🙏"

Another said:

"I thought we were told that the farm murders are made up and the genocide is a lie 🙌"

A commenter added:

"And people will still vote ANC 😭💔 We should demand a referendum! We call for this because we need the death penalty"

One person observed:

"The cops are too busy committing crimes to help those in need 🤬"

Another wrote:

"This is not just normal crime. Theft is one thing, but torture is something completely different. This is not a crime as a result of poverty; this is a crime as a result of hatred."

One commenter questioned:

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"This is hatred. Why torture and not just take what you want without harming?"

Another added:

"People keep saying this is just normal crime. I haven't heard of anyone but farmers being tortured... TORTURED. Sit on that thought, let it simmer in your mind."

One user noted:

"Shout out to the farm worker for sounding the alarm. Black and white people working together."

Other Briefly News stories on rural safety

• UFC middleweight fighter Dricus du Plessis brought renewed national and global attention to rural violence after reposting an Instagram video by community activist Ian Cameron detailing a violent farm attack near Potchefstroom in the North West.
• Civil rights organisation AfriForum released an extensive research report analysing 47 farm and smallholding attacks recorded between 2019 and 2025, detailing recurring patterns of physical and psychological torture inflicted on victims.
• A South African poultry farmer went viral in a video shared by Plaas Japie after recounting how an armed gang raided her smallholding, held her staff at gunpoint, and beat them with firearms before stripping the property of vital infrastructure.

Source: Briefly News