Blacks are not immune to farm killings

WHILE the Black Monday protests were happening, police released the 2017 crime statistic showing there had been a 1.84% increase in the number of murders committed, which increased the number of people killed in South Africa in the 2016/2017 to 19 016.

According to the Transvaal Agricultural Union, a total of 1182 white and 66 black farmers have been killed between 1990 and 2017 in South Africa.

Independent policing expert Johan Burger unpacked the numbers and pointed out that in terms of the statistic, more white farmers had been killed, although a number of black people were also killed in these attacks.

Burger also highlighted the fact that a report published in 2003 revealed that more than 70% of women raped during farm attacks were black women.

“If you take it from 1990 when they started monitoring the situation, and you look over the years it’s actually quite surprising. White farmers killed 1181, black farmers killed 66; white family members killed 472, black family members 33; white workers 16, black workers 136; white visitors 18 and black visitors four. So, predominantly, it is still white farmers being killed, but there’s a substantial number of black people also killed over the years in these farm attacks.”

Suggested Burger:“if you look at other crimes, there is a report by the committee of enquiry into farm attacks that was published in 2003, which revealed that more than 70% of the women raped during farm attacks were black women so it was either a black female working on the farm or the wives or family members of workers.”

He said farm murders are a huge issue that cannot be looked at in isolation that it is only white farmers who are being killed, when black farmers were also being targeted by criminals.

“This is why I always argue that we shouldn’t make this a race issue. Let us appreciate the fact that everyone on farms are either victims or potential victims of these attacks.”