Man killed in front of kids

Johannesburg - Three armed men killed a man in full view of his children after torturing him at the family's home in Swartruggens, North West police said on Thursday.

Frans Paulus Pieterse, 45, his wife Daleen, 33, and their two children Gideon, 10, and three-year-old Anushka were asleep when three men broke the main bedroom window at 21:00 on Wednesday, spokesperson Elsabe Augostides said.

"The suspects entered through the main bedroom window. They tied up Mr Pieterse and cut his forehead with a sharp object," Augostides said.

The men then allegedly poured boiling water over Pieterse before strangling him with shoe laces in full view of his children.

DVD, TV stolen

"His wife sustained two knife wounds in the left leg and Gideon suffered bruises to his face."

The trio made off with a television and a DVD player around 01:00 on Thursday morning.

Augostides said they then allegedly attempted to break into another house in the neighbourhood.

"Fortunately Johan Labushagne and his wife were awakened by the noise and called the police."

Police responding to the Pieterse incident rushed to the Labuschagne home and found the three men. Two of them managed to escape by jumping over a wall.

The 19-year-old man who was arrested would appear in the Swartruggens magistrate's court soon.