More than 95% of all farm attacks and murder incidents still unsolved
Out of the 1 402 farm attacks and farm murder incidents recorded by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the past four years (from 2019 to 2022), convictions have so far been made in only 66 cases. This means that more than 95% of all these atrocities are still unsolved. These and other shocking figures regarding the arrest and prosecution of suspects involved in farm attacks and farm murder incidents that took place from 2019 to 2022 are contained in an AfriForum report that was released today during a media conference in Pretoria.
The report shows, among other things, that not a single successful prosecution of farm murders was made in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the North West or the Northern Cape during the investigation period. “This despite the fact that the improvement of crime investigations and an increase in the number of prosecutions of all crimes committed in rural areas was set out as an explicit objective in the SAPS’ National Rural Safety Strategy (NRSS) that was implemented in 2019,” explains Johan Nortjé, AfriForum researcher and compiler of this report entitled “Rural injustice: The low prosecution rates for farm attacks and murders”.
“Weak investigative work, ineffective prosecutions and a clear unwillingness of the government to tackle rural safety and farm attacks in particular are probably the reason for these shocking findings,” explains Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s spokesperson for Community Safety.
“The figures reveal a bitter truth, namely that farm attackers not only believe that they can get away with their inexcusable crimes – they know it.”
Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s spokesperson for Community Safety
“That is why it is now more important than ever for farming communities to organise themselves, be trained and set up robust safety networks,” says Broodryk.
For the first time this report now also offers a perspective on the nationality of arrested farm attackers. The vast majority of attackers arrested are South Africans and not foreign nationals as is often claimed by some.
Get involved with your nearest AfriForum neighbourhood or farm watch at www.afriforumbuurtwag.co.za.
