“For a 74-year-old man, my father was still fit and healthy. He was a busy man and still actively farmed. That’s why her death is very hard for us.”
This is how Craig Davidson tells about his father, Francis Davidson, who died in hospital on Tuesday, about a month after he was detained and tortured for a long time on his farm in the district of Nqanqarhu (Maclear).
According to Craig, his father still went up to the mountains daily on foot or on horseback where he rented a piece of land and where a few of his cattle grazed.
Davidson was not afraid to get his hands dirty in his old age and enjoyed fixing tractors and agricultural implements. As a hobby, he also liked to restore old-fashioned tractors.
“There is still a tractor’s engine lying on the farm yard he was working on.”
He also calibrated planters and sprayers for farmers in the area and in the past year helped teach 300 sheep for a project on a single day.
“He was not a wealthy man and lived from hand to mouth with the money he got for odd jobs. But he was a very hard-working man.”
Three men overtook Davidson on his farm on April 26, severely assaulted and tortured him. The farmer suffered severe head injuries during the attack and had to undergo two brain surgeries. He also suffered massive muscle trauma and burns.
Davidson’s family told RNews at the end of May that he was still struggling with cognitive skills and was physically extremely weakened. He no longer remembered his own name nor did he recognize his family.
It is difficult for the family to accept that Francis was taken from them in such a cruel way.
“He still had a zest for life and it was stolen from him.”
Davidson and his wife, Heather, had a happy life on the farm and he was a beloved farmer in the Eastern Cape, says his son.
“He had no enemies. He was very friendly and did not get angry easily. He loved to laugh – the laugh lines on his face testify to that.
“He also always had time to strike up a conversation with anyone – from the herdsman to the dog.”
A date has not yet been set for Davidson’s funeral service because the post-mortem examination has not yet been completed.
Glen Velleman, Heather’s son, writes on Facebook that Davidson was grateful for the little things in life.
“We will always remember your stories that you told with such passion. The world needs more of your gentle humanity and character,” writes Velleman.
Francis’ daughter, Tara Davidson, writes that she is grateful that she was able to hold her father’s hands in the last few weeks and tell him how much she loves him.
Yamkela Fanaphi, Thembelani Mazibuko and Andile Dyani will appear in the magistrate’s court at Nqanqarhu on Tuesday when a charge of murder will be added to the indictment.
Fanaphi worked part-time as a farm laborer for Davidson on the farm.
Craig has attended every court case so far.
