The murder of Nico and Marsha Lens of Paulpietersburg, Kwazulu-Natal has brought into sharp focus the steady increase in farm attacks in the country.
The couple, both in their fifties, were gunned down on their farm last night. Neighbours found Mrs Lens’ body in the bedroom, after an emergency signal came through on the radio system. They also discovered Mr Lens’ body on the outskirts of the farmyard.
There were seventeen farm attacks in the country during August, five of which were murders. This brings the number of farm murders this year to twenty since May.
AfriForum today submitted a complaint at the National and KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioners, after the local police and the Newcastle Canine Unit responded at a ‘snail’s pace’ to the murder.
“The nearest police station is 30km from the farm, but it took the SAPS about an hour and a half to get to the scene,” said Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum Spokesperson for Community Safety in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The Canine Unit from Newcastle only arrived about three hours after the crime,” Van Aswegen added.
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So sad! RIP