The latest farm attack in Mpumalanga underscores the necessity of being allowed to possess a firearm for self-defence as well as the need for more effective rural safety.
Mr Dionne van Rensburg was attacked on his smallholding near Naauwpoort just outside Witbank. Four perpetrators overpowered, tortured and strangled Van Rensburg while demanding money.
The suspects finally made off with goods to the value of approximately R200 000. Nobody has been arrested yet.
The proposed Firearms Control Amendment Bill, which aims to scrap the category of possessing a firearm for the purpose of self-defence, is not only illogical, but will also result in even more farm attacks and murders of vulnerable citizens.
If the government does not offer you the protection you need, you have the right to protect yourself and your family by any means possible, including owning a firearm for self-defence.
In addition, it is everyone’s common law right.
The FF Plus strongly condemns all murder and violence in South Africa and especially any acts of violence against the farming community due to rural communities’ exceptional vulnerability. Rural communities are isolated and oftentimes have to wait for hours before help arrives from more urban areas.
The FF Plus has always been serious about combatting farm attacks and will continue to put pressure on the government to declare farm attacks and murders priority crimes.
The FF Plus also posed questions to Mr Vusi Shongwe, Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, about the province’s implementation of the rural safety plan. The plan means nothing if it is not properly implemented.
The FF Plus herewith also expresses its sympathy for the victim and wishes him a speedy recovery.
The party will provide any and all assistance needed to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Werner Weber on FF Plus
Read about more farm attacks here
Read: Farm attack, man brutalized by 4 attackers, smallholding raided, Naauwpoort
