KZN Midlands farming community reeling in shock, fear after brutal murder of ‘kind, down-to-earth’ farm manager

Neighbours of murdered Indezi Valley resident Mike Pryor have described him as a kind-hearted and gentle man and say his brutal killing has left them shocked.

Pryor, a farm manager from Kwa Heri Farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands was found burnt beyond recognition inside a vehicle at a grazing farm near Mpophomeni on Sunday morning. According to police, Pryor was abducted from his home prior to his death.

UMngeni Municipality (Howick) deputy mayor Sandile Mnikathi offered condolences on behalf of the municipality earlier this week.

Neighbours, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, told The Mercury on Tuesday that Pryor lived alone.

One neighbour said she last saw Pryor when he delivered bales to her property not long before his murder.

“It’s very emotional for me. He offloaded very quickly because there were only three bales, and then he went back to the farm.”

She said Pryor had been expected to return later to collect payment, but when they called him later, they could not reach him. 

Describing Pryor, the neighbour said: “He was the most kind and gentle person. He had been injured in a truck accident, so he had to walk with a stick. He was always respectful to everyone.”

She added that Pryor was single and lived alone with his dogs. “He loved his dogs, and they were always with him,” she said.

Another nearby farmer said the killing had left residents deeply unsettled.

“We are all hyper aware of security, like all South Africans. However, we live in places that are often some distance from our neighbours or security services,” she said.

“The nature of our work also means that we are vulnerable to the outbursts of evil people. Mike may have been tortured all day without anyone hearing or noticing. It was only when his dog was found wandering unusually far that a neighbour realised that there was something wrong.”

The farmer said the broader emotional and practical impact of such killings is often overlooked. “The folks who were first responders, the friends who have to take care of animals left behind, the family that will have to clean up a home that reminds them of the violence, those are the people who live with the aftermath,” she said.

“When we start seeing farm murders only as a security issue or statistics, we lose sight of the fact that these are hardworking, down-to-earth people who feed the nation.”

A third neighbour said Pryor had called him days before his death. “He phoned me on Wednesday to say his electricity had been switched off,” he said.

“He was living alone, and that made him an easy target. He was a wonderful man, very friendly and down-to-earth.”

“He didn’t deserve what happened to him. He was brutally murdered and burned. It’s a horrific thing to happen to anyone,” the farmer said.

“We’ve been living with fear for years. Every farmer knows that as soon as the lights go out, you have to be on your guard.”

The farmer added that safety concerns in the area were nothing new. “Concerns have existed for the last ten years due to previous killings. The fear never goes away,” he said.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Pryor’s body was discovered inside a burnt-out vehicle after officers responded to reports of a fire. “On-scene investigation uncovered the identity of the vehicle owner, and it was then established that the owner of the vehicle was reported kidnapped,” he said.

The motive for the killing remains unknown. Police investigations continue.

THE MERCURY