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Sustained high levels of violence in farm attacks and an increase in the number of attacks, despite the slight decrease in the number of farm murders, show that rural communities are still vulnerable. These and other key findings are included in AfriForum’s report Farm attacks and murders in South Africa on farms and smallholdings (2025), which was released today.
 
The civil rights organisation warns that, while the decrease in the number of farm murders that occurred in 2025 may appear encouraging, its research shows that violence during attacks is a cause for concern. This year’s study specifically sheds light on the occurrence of aggravated violent conduct, rape, and torture during farm attacks reported in 2025, in addition to information on the number of farm attacks and murders.
 
AfriForum’s research shows that at least 184 farm attacks and 29 farm murders occurred in 2025, compared to 176 attacks and 37 murders in 2024. The increase in the number of farm attacks, as well as the violent nature thereof, indicates that many victims who have survived attacks could very easily have been murdered. AfriForum found, among other things, that 36% of all farm attacks recorded in 2025 – or almost 4 out of every 10 farm attacks – could be classified as “serious violent act[s] with a “substantial risk of death”.
 
Incidence of attacks by province

The AfriForum report, furthermore, shows that although farm attacks occur nationwide, Gauteng is the province where the highest number of farm attacks (50) and the highest number of farm murder incidents (7) were recorded in 2025. This brings Gauteng’s murder-incident-to-attack ratio to 14%. A total of 26, 25 and 25 attacks were reported in Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape respectively, while 1, 4 and 3 murder incidents occurred in these three provinces. However, the province with the highest murder-incident-to-attack ratio is Limpopo, where 5 murder incidents occurred in 16 attacks. More than 3 out of every 10 attacks (or 31% of attacks) in this province resulted in the death of victims.
 
Victims of farm attacks

Although the ages of victims are not always known, AfriForum’s research shows that no age category is exempt from falling victim to this crime. In 2025, victims ranged from young children to the elderly. It does appear that people older than 61 years are particularly vulnerable, with 1 in 2 victims (or 54% of all victims whose ages are known) falling into this age category.
 
According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety, the 2025 report paints a bleak picture of rural safety in South Africa and highlights the vulnerability of farmers, their families, farm workers and other farm residents.
 
“Any decrease in the number of farm murders is good, but it would be a serious mistake to view these figures as a victory in the fight against farm attacks. The reality is that the level of violence in farm attacks is exceptionally high and that many of these attacks could easily have resulted in the death of victims. The brutality seen in these attacks confirms that farm attacks are not ordinary crimes and must be dealt with accordingly,” says Broodryk.
 
AfriForum therefore once again calls on the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) to declare farm attacks a priority crime. “The failure to make such a classification hinders efforts to combat this crime effectively. Given the organised nature of farm attacks and the extreme violence that accompanies these attacks, farm attacks meet the prerequisites of a priority crime.”
 
According to Broodryk, AfriForum will continue its strategy of raising international awareness about farm attacks and the realities that rural communities in South Africa face. The organisation insists that the South African government must take a definite stance against farm attacks and inflammatory rhetoric that seeks to normalise violence, such as the singing of the “Kill the Boer” chant.
 
AfriForum will also continue to expand its community safety structures, including neighbourhood watches, farm patrols and rapid response networks, to help protect vulnerable communities. The organisation emphasises that cooperation between communities, private security, and the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains essential, but that stronger political will and decisive action are also urgently needed to tackle the crisis.

Issued by AfriForum