In a statement released on Monday, 6 July, TLU SA’s deputy general manager, Major General Chris van Zyl, said the agricultural sector has seen 26 farm murders and 141 farm attacks so far this year. TLU SA’s advice on safety and alertness, however, seems to help to protect those on farms against such vicious attacks.
“It is clear that effective resistance and the implementation of self-defence techniques have caused the death of or severe injuries to various attackers. From the accounts of farmers who maintained proper levels of preparedness, attackers were not able to surprise them or catch them off-guard. An awareness of strange or unnatural signs and immediate access to weapons prevented the loss of innocent lives and serious injuries.”
Van Zyl added there was a decrease in violent crimes since the inception of the lockdown.
Between January and March this year, TLU SA recorded 71 farm attacks and 14 murders. Since then violent crimes started increasing to levels on par with those before the lockdown; between April and June, there were 68 attacks and 12 murders among people living on farms.
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The high levels of violence against victims do not correlate with the obvious motives of robbery and theft of money, weapons and tradeable goods such as computers and cellphones.
“An analysis of the murder victims shows without a doubt that white farmers, families and farm workers make up two-thirds of murder victims. The particularly high levels of violence and torture indicate a high level of racial hatred, which deeply concerns us.
“We call on farmers to be alert and to work together in Farm Watches to strengthen safety on farms. Even though farm attacks still count as priority crimes, it does not receive as much dedicated personnel as other priority crimes. The root of the problem lies in the government’s disinterest in protecting the lives of farmers.”
