Planning to unveil a plaque, honouring the names of the 18 farmers killed since 1975, first came to fruition four years ago with the Dundee and District Farmers Union forced to put the project on hold due to the pandemic.
“We wanted to honour farmers in our area who have succumbed to the horrifying statistics that make up farm murders in our country,” said Herman de Wet, Farmers Union chairman at Sunday’s service.
Work was also done to trace family members – some of whom who have left the area – and invite them to the service at the auction sales kraal where wreathes were laid.
Ironically, the service came day after elderly farming couple, Mike and Alida Scheepers, experienced a home invasion at their home on the R33 on the Dundee/Vryheid road.
“Fortunately, they managed to quick lock the door when the man entered their home but went out again, presumably to call in his accomplices. The alarm was raised and farmers reacted swiftly. We are just glad no one was hurt even though the perpetrators evaded arrest,” de Wet told the Courier.
Ds Piet Steenkamp led a powerful service on the danger of harbouring thoughts of revenge (after being wronged) that can poison the mind, body and entire families.
“You can choose to remain in the cross current of hopelessness and being carried away by your pain and anger, into a meaningless existence or you can choose the way of God like David (in the Bible). Call for help and dedicate yourself to the life that God has promised – and still promises today,” he told those gathered for the service.
Johann du Plessis, who was part of the organising committee, told guests that during the ‘bush war’ on the Angolan border, around 2500 South African soldiers died from 1963-1989.
“Since 1991, around 2247 farmers have been murdered and our country is not at war. A farm murder is not more important than any other murder. With a murder rate of around 70 a day, it is clear that South Africa is caught in a ‘warzone’.
“What makes farm murders different from other (murders) is that songs are song in public calling on people to ‘kill the Boer’. The brutal nature of many farmer murders is also very telling. According to research, it takes around eight years for a farm to become fully productive again following such a murder.”
Du Plessis noted that with just 30 000 commercial farmers in the country, (out of a population of 60-million) it means that around 2000 people are affected when it comes to putting food on the table.
“Today’s service is about remembering these slain farmers and standing with their families. “ He added that the unveiling of the name board is a symbol of peace which ‘believers can only experience through our Heavenly Father’.
“Let this be a monument in our community to encourage us in the future to ensure that the legacy left by those who came before us lives on.”
Following the playing of The Last Post and Reveille, relatives laid wreaths as Craig Carter, of the committee, read out the 18 names:
Willem Labuschagne, Christiaan Els, Jacobus Botes, Susarah Botes, Johannes Scheepers, Pieter Naude, Christou van der Walt, Ralf ‘Stompie’ Wellman, Udo Dedekind, Jan van Zyl, Anna Muller, Skag Labuschagne, Krisstofel de Wit, Ronald Wohlberg, August Brüller, Jaap Louwrens, David Rattray and Colin Brits.
The first recorded farm murder was in 1975 and the last one (recorded) in the district in 2020. The plaque will be put up in the hall at the auction sale kraal.
Relatives, some of whom, travelled from Gauteng and beyond to attend the service said they appreciated the gesture to remember their loved ones and to have their memory honoured in such a dignified manner.
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