Farm safety continues to be a cause of concern following yet another farm attack in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, which has left a farmer hospitalised. This was after he was reportedly ambushed by three men on his farm in the Elandslaagte area, just outside of Ladysmith.
According to reports, the incident unfolded on Thursday evening, 20 June 2024, along the N11 near the Matiwaneskop turn-off, when the farmer was ambushed by three men and shot in the process.
While the exact circumstances around the incident are currently unclear, Warrant Officer Basheer Khan, the Communications and Liaison officer from Ladysmith SAPS, confirmed that there was a shooting incident on a farm in the Elandslaagte area, where police found that a man had been shot.
After police officials arrived on the scene, Warrant Officer Khan explained that a manhunt was launched to capture the fleeing suspects, who managed to elude the police. He further noted that a case of attempted murder is currently being investigated by the uThukela District Detective Task Team. The farmer was subsequently rushed to hospital after the shooting, where he is reportedly in a stable condition.
“Police are appealing to the community for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. Captain Brits can be contacted on 082 802 7777,” said Warrant Officer Khan.
As police investigate the matter, this was the second farm attack in the span of a week in Northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The first incident occurred on Thursday, 13 June 2023, along the N11, Newcastle/Utrecht Road. As Newcastillians will remember, five suspects targeted the farm owned by Tollie Nel.
To read more, click here.
As police investigations into both cases continue, the question now arises: how safe are farmers?
According to a recent statement by AfriForum focusing on farm murders, nearly one murder occurred per week on South African farms in 2023, with a total of 296 farm attacks recorded during this period.
In terms of the prevalence of farm attacks and murders in the provinces across South Africa during 2023, AfriForum’s report reflected the following:
- Gauteng led the way with 83 farm attacks and 11 murders.
- Limpopo saw 36 farm attacks and two murders.
- North West was recorded to have 35 farm attacks and eight murders.
- Free State saw a total of 33 farm attacks and eight murders.
- Western Cape saw 33 farm attacks and six murders.
- KwaZulu-Natal came in with 30 farm attacks and four murders.
- Mpumalanga saw 22 farm attacks and seven murders.
- Eastern Cape saw 21 farm attacks and a total of three murders.
- Northern Cape noted a total of three farm attacks and no murders.
When looking at the high number of farm attacks, the civil rights organisation has criticised the double standards in the SAPS’s approach to the prevention of and investigations into certain crimes and argues that no murder should be considered less important. “However, when murders have unique elements, as is the case with farm attacks and murders, a specialised approach should be followed,” said AfriForum in its statement.
Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety, stated that crime, especially violent crime, has become a pandemic in South Africa and appears to be spiralling out of control. AfriForum also noted that the South African government and the top leadership of the SAPS have done little of significance to combat this scourge.
“No murder is more important than another, and likewise no murder is less important than another. However, when it comes to farm murders, this is exactly how the South African government sees it,” emphasised Broodryk.
Furthermore, AfriForum observed that resources have been allocated to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for investigating certain serious and organised crimes. The SAPS and other relevant agencies follow a specific approach to combating these crimes, known in the industry as priority crimes. These include cash-in-transit robberies, illegal mining, and politically motivated murders, for which special ministerial task teams have been established for prevention and investigation.
“A specialised approach to unique crimes is to be welcomed. However, there are questions as to why the South African government refuses to follow the same approach with farm attacks and murders. In certain cases, the occurrence of farm attacks and murders is much higher, more violent and requires a much more specialised approach than some of the crimes that were prioritised,” explained Broodryk.
While the organisation did not feel enough was being done to address the issue, AfriForum highlighted that it would actively continue the fight for the safety of the community through its more than 170 security structures and more than 10,000 trained volunteers nationwide.
These structures, according to AfriForum, succeed time and time again in warding off farm attacks and apprehending criminals who are guilty of these crimes. AfriForum further added that it would also continue to further expand its security network, offer training and equip community members with the necessary skills to act within the framework of the law to curb crime.
“While the South African government continues to turn a blind eye to the reality of farm attacks, and politicians like Julius Malema and his supporters continue to openly chant ‘Kill the Boer, kill the farmer’, AfriForum does not ask for special treatment of farm murders and attacks – we simply ask for equal treatment,” concluded Broodryk.
With AfriForum looking at enhancing its structures to promote safety, while urging the government to do more on the concerning crime, and as police investigations continue into the two farm attacks, what are your thoughts on the above? Share your views in the comment section below.