White farmer gives first account of terrifying South Africa raid: 'They put my testicles in bolt cutters, sliced my wife's nipples and said they'd gang-rape her - it's not just about robbing us'

A white South African farmer has revealed details of a brutal raid at his property, which saw him have his testicles put into a pair of bolt cutters, while attackers cut off part of his wife's nipples.Les Brett, 66, and his 58-year-old wife Natasha were attacked on November 1, when three armed men invaded their home in Broederstroom, North West province, about 60km north of Johannesburg.The masked attackers stripped the couple naked, beat them, burned them with boiling water, and tortured them for at least three hours to get the keys to their safe. They also repeatedly threatened to gang rape Mrs Brett.Now, Mr Brett - a former soldier and police officer - has revealed details of the horrific farm attack. Speaking to local newspaper The Citizen, Mr Brett said he and his wife were 'put through hell,' and described how the attack unfolded. 'They tied us up with our hands behind our backs and our feet together and blindfolded us and stuffed rags in our mouths, and then they started to beat us both badly.'This went on for a while, with them demanding the keys to the safe and money and after about half an hour one took my blindfold off so I could see my wife beside me. Our clothes had been cut off, and they wanted me to see what they were doing to Natasha, and they were cutting her around her nipples with a knife and tin snips.'They also had bolt cutters and put my testicles in them with the obvious threat, and I told them where the key to the safe was, and they ransacked the house totally. Les Brett (pictured) and his wife Natasha suffered hours of brutal torture during a raid of their game farm The attackers ripped the clothes off Mrs Brett (pictured) and cut her nipples with bolt cutters'Then their attention turned to money, and they kept asking where the 1million Rand was. I told them we don't have millions, but they continued to beat us both and torture us.'They threw us into the safe and boiled up water on the stove and began pouring boiling water over us while demanding millions, but I told them we didn't have millions.'I offered them my cars, but they didn't want the cars, and I offered to go withdraw money at the ATM, but they didn't want that; they just said they wanted a million.'Mr Brett says his attackers then pushed his own AK-47 gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger, but miraculously, the firearm failed. 'I should have died, but that AK-47 has been faulty for years, and it never fires the last round, and there was only one bullet left,' he said. 'It didn't go off; otherwise, I would have been dead now. It is by the Grace of God that Natasha and I survived.'The couple were miraculously saved when an armed local patrol guard appeared at their property to check on a water pump issue that Mr Brett had reported. He said the attackers closed the door to the safe and left them in there before running away. However, his wife was able to free herself and call for help. Mr Brett says he sustained injuries to his head and knees from the bolt cutters, adding that he has a fractured hip. He also revealed that the robbers took seven firearms, two cell phones and a laptop. However, they didn't take any expensive cameras, nor jewellery, wallets or their cars, he says. 'I see this as a targeted farm attack. Nobody gets tortured for three hours and is scalded with boiling water and has their privates threatened in a house robbery when they leave so much behind,' he said.The attack is the latest in a wave of home raids on farmers that have sent shockwaves across South Africa and sparked international political debate.Some members of the minority white Afrikaner community in South Africa have claimed they are facing violent persecution and widespread seizures of white-owned land. The couple are pictured together in this undated photograph Pictured: Three men suspected of raiding a farm in Broederstroom, North West provinceHowever, the South African government has stated that these incidents are driven by broader violent crime rather than an effort to target white South Africans only. The debate was further fuelled by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed white farmers are being persecuted, and has offered refugee status to white South Africans.Afrikaners are the descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first arrived in South Africa in the 17th century. They are just one of South Africa’s white minorities, which also include South Africans of British descent.Afrikaners were at the heart of the apartheid system of racial segregation in South Africa that lasted from 1948 until 1994, when Nelson Mandela was elected as the country’s first Black president in the first democratic, all-race elections. Their leading role in apartheid has led to some lingering racial tensions, but Afrikaners have generally embraced their country’s new multiracial democracy just like most other South Africans.The attack on the couple was condemned by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Adams, who has urged farmers to strengthen their home security and report any suspicious activity.Mr Brett is a former member of the Special Forces and Police Service. He has trained British armed forces personnel, HM Customs and Excise enforcement officers and US Special Forces in bushcraft, tracking and field survival.He founded Dung Beetle Bush School more than 20 years ago to help combat poaching and support wildlife conservation.A spokesman for Hartbeespoortdam police said in a statement: 'Hartbeespoortdam police are investigating a case of house robbery following an incident at a residence in Broederstroom, where three unknown suspects allegedly robbed a couple, aged 66 and 58, of firearms, electronic equipment and other valuables. Mr Brett is a former member of the Special Forces and Police Service'According to information, the suspects, described as three unidentified African males wearing face masks, allegedly gained entry into the house through an unlocked wooden sliding door on Sunday, November 1, 2026.'The suspects reportedly demanded money, claiming that they knew one of the occupants operated a kiosk at a nearby resort.'The suspects subsequently gained access to a safe and stole seven firearms of different calibres, together with ammunition. All the firearms were reportedly licensed in the male victim's name.'It is further alleged that the male victim operates an anti-poaching school.'In addition, the suspects allegedly stole two cellphones, a laptop, cash and other personal belongings before fleeing the scene.'During the incident, the male victim sustained minor injuries. He reportedly sought medical attention from a doctor after being threatened and allegedly having hot water dropped on him by the suspects in an attempt to extract information.'It follows two other brutal farm attacks in South Africa in less than a week.Donovan Marx was attacked at his home in Syferfontein, near Ventersdorp in the North West province last month after three armed men wearing balaclavas confronted a farmworker.The attackers reportedly approached the worker while he was mowing the lawn and demanded to know where the property's owner was before tying his hands and feet with cable ties.When 50-year-old Mr Marx arrived in his red Isuzu pick-up truck, two of the attackers allegedly approached him and shot him in the upper body.He was dragged into the house, tied up and repeatedly stabbed and assaulted. The attackers then hacked off both his ears.The gang then searched the property, stole three firearms from a safe and fled in Mr Marx's vehicle.The farmworker managed to free himself from his restraints and raise the alarm, while Mr Marx was rushed to Mediclinic Potchefstroom in a serious condition.He underwent emergency surgery, with his family later confirming that part of his large intestine had been removed and that surgeons had been unable to save his ears.Police arrested two suspects in the Ventersdorp area on Saturday before apprehending three more in Promosa, near Potchefstroom, on Sunday, November 1.In another attack, a Hammanskraal homeowner was beaten and forced to open his safe at a property in Vasfontein during the early hours of last Tuesday.According to police spokesman Captain Johan van Dyk, three men broke into the home, fired a shot and struck the homeowner on the forehead before fleeing with cash and household items.