AfriForum condemns judge’s comments downplaying farm attacks

AfriForum strongly condemns the remarks made by Judge Francis Kganyago during sentencing proceedings in the High Court in Polokwane, where he repeatedly questioned why the double murder of Anneke Claassen (76) and her partner, Hennie Claassen (77), was classified as a farm attack.

The couple was attacked in their homes on the Klipfonteinhoek farm near Ohrigstad in June 2023. Anneke was burned alive, while Hennie was bludgeoned to death with blunt force trauma before his lower body was set alight. According to AfriForum this case epitomises the brutality and unique elements of farm attacks in South Africa.

Instead of recognising this reality, Judge Kganyago dismissed repeated explanations from the prosecutor and even compared the classification of farm attacks to the allegory in Animal Farm, suggesting that such crimes are being treated as “more important” than others.

“This attitude is extremely concerning. When judges start parroting political narratives that attempt to downplay the seriousness of farm attacks, we enter dangerous territory,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s spokesperson for Community Safety. “The SAPS itself has an official definition of farm attacks, and numerous other crimes – such as taxi violence and political killings – are also classified separately and receive specialised attention. Why then should farm attacks, which often involve extraordinary brutality, be denied this recognition?”

AfriForum argues that the judge’s comments mirror the government’s ongoing attempts to downplay farm murders, even while officials refuse to condemn chants like “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer”. This case is not isolated: there are many documented examples where racial and political utterances accompanied farm murders, including the Porterville attack where “Kill the Boer” was written on the victims’ home, and the Ntuthuko Chuene case, where the perpetrator admitted he was influenced by the chant.

“It is deeply insulting to the families of victims – and dangerous to South Africa’s food security – when our courts dismiss the unique nature of these crimes. Instead of denial, we need recognition, condemnation, and concrete action,” Broodryk concludes.

AfriForum will continue to fight for justice for rural communities and for farm attacks to be treated with the seriousness they demand.