Farm attacks becoming a ‘national disaster’

KWAZULU-Natal police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said farm attacks were widespread and determining a reason was difficult.

“Motives differ from case to case and are not linked. The motive currently identified by Crime Intelligence and the Security Desk of Kwanalu (the KZN Agricultural Union) is purely criminal… The items stolen are resold for money (and) used in the commission of other crimes,” said Zwane.

He said KZN farming communities could protect themselves through participation and communication with all role-players and CPF structures, and through a farmwatch system, community patrols and volunteers to assist farmers. “(They must) enforce strict access-control measures (and have a) farm plan or emergency strategy.”

Zwane said a Provincial Priority Committee met monthly to discuss all rural safety issues, including farm attacks and murders.

The president of the African Farmers Association of South Africa, Mike Mlengana, said farm attacks happened too often: “It’s now becoming a national disaster.”

He believed unemployment fuelled the attacks and said most often the killers were known to the victims.