Farm attackers try to drown foreman in septic tank 77-year-old survives horror attack on Free State farm 19 January 2021 - 11:57 Image: 123RF/Paul Fleet A 77-year-old farm foreman survived a horror attack in which he was stabbed, tortured and forced into a septic tank, where he was pelted with stones. Three attackers attempted to drown Simon Makhotha in the septic tank on a farm in the Zastron area of the Free State on Sunday night, Free State Agriculture (FSA) confirmed on Tuesday. “The attackers gained access to the farm house after which Makhotha was tied up and tortured,” the organisation said.