Christoffel Johannes Stoman appeared in Vredendal Magistrate’s Court on September 30, facing charges of attempted murder and reckless and negligent driving.
According to police, Stoman was apprehended after six-year-old Kwezi Beukes was struck by his vehicle, which was towing a trailer, while walking with his mother, Magdalene Jantijies, on September 20.
The farmer accused Khwezi of stealing an orange from his farm and reportedly drove into the boy, causing severe injuries, including two broken legs.
Following the incident, Stoman allegedly expressed no remorse, stating he “would do it again.”
Kwezi and his mother were taken to Vredendal Hospital and later transferred to Paarl Hospital, where the boy is currently undergoing treatment to save his legs, with surgery scheduled for Wednesday, according to his devastated mother.
Magdalene recounted that she and her son were walking past the farmer’s property on their way to town for groceries when Khwezi picked up an orange from the ground and attempted to reach for another through a fence.
Describing the harrowing event, the distraught mother said she heard Stoman shout before he collided with them, pinning them against a fence.
Magdalene stated, “He came from around the corner at high speed. He yelled, ‘Stand there, stand there.’ I thought he would stop. He aimed directly at us in the corner, and I screamed for help! He said, ‘I’m going to kill you by driving into you.'”
