South African rugby star Lukas van Biljon ‘devastated’ after father dies from gunshot wounds

Former South African rugby star Lukas van Biljon is said to be ‘broken and devastated’ after his father died of gunshot wounds in a horrific attack on a farm in South Africa.

The tragic Andre van Biljon, 70, was shot three times in the chest at midnight on Saturday and his son, ex-Springbok hooker Lukas, 47, was stabbed repeatedly with a knife.

Six armed men had stormed the family farm in Oranjeville in the Free State province in the dark, tied Lukas’ children with cable ties and then sneaked into Lukas’ bedroom.

The 6ft 2 former hooker was awakened with a 9mm pistol to his head and in a short fight he was stabbed a number of times until the gang told him they had his sons.

They warned him that his three boys would be shot if he resisted.

Former South African rugby star Lukas van Biljon, 47, (pictured in Wellington, New Zealand in 2006) was repeatedly stabbed with a knife

Meanwhile, his brave father Andre had run to a radio to warn his fellow farmers that they were under attack, but was spotted and shot three times.

The bullets hit him in the chest and he was rushed to Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein in critical condition, but lost his fight for life at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A good friend of a farmer said: ‘Lukas is broken and devastated and along with Biljon’s family he has been at Andre’s bedside since he had surgery.

“But they were serious injuries and his body gave up on him. They cold-bloodedly shot him at close range. He was an old man and couldn’t fight back.’

“Lukas said he has been greatly comforted by the world of rugby coming together to support him and his family along with the local farming community,” he said.

Farmer Andre died on Tuesday on the day Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed the latest SA crime figures of 6,000 people killed in the first three months of 2023.

Retired hooker and former Sharks player Lukas made 13 appearances for his country between 2001 and 2003, but was dropped after a series of high-profile brawls in nightclubs.

His first game was against Italy and his last game was against New Zealand.

Retired hooker and former Sharks player Lukas (pictured on the farm) made 13 appearances for his country between 2001 and 2003, but was dropped after a series of high-profile brawls in nightclubs

Lukas van Biljon (pictured) was awakened with a 9mm pistol to his head and stabbed several times in a short fight until the gang told him they had his sons

South African Police spokesman Captain Loraine Earle said two of the attackers were arrested after local farmers were warned and set up roadblocks and caught them.

She said: “Just after midnight on Saturday, police were called to a Van Biljon family farm in Oranjeville where two men had suffered injuries.

“It is alleged that six armed men entered the house and tied the children with cable ties and that a 47-year-old man was stabbed and his 70-year-old father was shot.

“Two men have been arrested and charged with robbery and attempted murder, but those charges have now been upgraded to murder following the death of the Lord of Biljon.”

“We are still looking for the other four men involved in this attack,” she said.

The two arrested men Khanye Muthi, 32, and Latin Mofokeng, 42, appeared before the Heilbron Magistrate’s Court on Monday in handcuffs and applied for bail and were remanded in custody until June 5.

Farmers in South Africa face daily threats of 333 brutal attacks across the country last year, which resulted in 55 gruesome murders of men, women and children.

The attacks are usually highlighted by the brutality with which women are often raped and both men and women are first tortured with hot irons, power tools and boiling water.

Most victims are then mercilessly shot with stabbing and strangulation as the second and third cause of death.

In South Africa there are 80 murders a day and over 120 rapes and the crime rate makes it one of the most dangerous countries in the world to live in with extremely low conviction rates.