There have been an unprecedented number of attacks on people who live in our rural communities. Between January and May 2019, 184 farm attacks and 20 farm murders have taken place in South Africa. By 15 June 2019 there were a further 19 farm attacks and 3 more farm murders. These attacks are carefully planned, and without exception include violence and frequently torture of the most horrific kind.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Rural Safety Strategy has been a dismal failure. Police stations in the most hard-hit rural areas are understaffed and under-resourced. SAPS is increasingly unable to protect our rural communities.
Each farmer, farmworker (and their loved ones) deserve to be protected from harm.
We urgently need the following interventions:
Rural Safety Units must be reintroduced and properly resourced;
Innovation in new technology such as surveillance drones, ShotSpotter and geofencing must be explored as a matter of urgency;
SAPS must declare rural crime a priority, and keep separate and accurate statistics so that the success or failure of interventions can be measured;
The Reservist Programme in farm areas must be properly implemented with a concerted effort to recruit and train framers, farmworkers and farm dwellers;
Increased access to health, social support and education must be ensured for farmworkers and dwellers. This is a fundamental human rights issue.
Sign our petition calling on the President to intervene and act now to stop the war on our rural communities.
Read the original article and sign the petition here
Read about more farm attacks here
South Africa Today – South Africa News
19 Farm attacks and 3 farm murders in South Africa 1-15 June 2019
184 Farm attacks and 20 farm murders in South Africa Jan to May 2019
Why Ramaphosa is silent on farm attacks – Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO, AfriForum
