“The public, government and farming communities must take note of every farm attack so that the level of awareness in this regard will lead to better policy, action and care with a view to drastically reducing the incidence thereof,” said Kobus Breytenbach, chair of Agri SA’s Rural Safety Committee, referring to the three farm attacks over the past few days.

Agri SA supports a fresh approach to the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy, especially after the Human Rights Commission recently indicated that a holistic and decisive effort was needed to curb the incidence of farm attacks.

A meeting has already been requested with the Minister of Police to discuss this matter, as well as how the findings of the Human Rights Commission on farm violence will be implemented by the police. The effective implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy will also receive the necessary attention.

“We wish to express our condolences to the families and next of kin who are traumatised by these incidents and will provide them with support where there is a need,” said Breytenbach.

Via the Agri Securitas Trust Fund, farming communities are assisted financially to improve their alertness and to take control of their own safety. Feedback in this regard indicates that such assistance has made a positive contribution to the safety of these communities.

Issued by Agri SA