Donovan Marx: First hospital photo released after farm attack

The family of North West farmer Donovan Marx has released the first photograph of him in hospital, just over a week after he was shot, stabbed and had both ears cut off during a farm attack.

The image, taken on Thursday morning, 5 November, shows the 50-year-old recovering at Mediclinic Potchefstroom.

His wife, Louise Marx, described his survival as “nothing less than a miracle and a testimony of God’s grace”.

“We know how many people across South Africa have prayed for, and are still praying for Donovan,” she said in a family statement.

The family shared the photograph with his permission to show those who had prayed for him how he was progressing.

DONOVAN MARX’S ROAD TO RECOVERY

Marx suffered serious injuries during the attack at his Syferfontein farm near Ventersdorp on 28 October.

A bullet passed through one of his kidneys, while surgeons had to remove part of his large intestine. He also sustained a stab wound to his leg.

Doctors performed emergency surgery, but his recovery has been complicated by a medical setback that required further investigations and treatment.

FOUR ACCUSED REMAIN IN CUSTODY

Police arrested five suspects in connection with the attack.

Four appeared in the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 3 November, while the fifth is expected to testify as a state witness under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

The four accused remain in custody. The State has indicated that it will oppose bail when they return to court on Friday, 13 November.