Farm attacks are not simply isolated cases of housebreaking or robbery. They are a recurring and often highly organised form of violent crime, frequently involving multiple armed perpetrators, planning, reconnaissance and extreme violence against people living and working in isolated rural areas. In 2025 alone, AfriForum recorded 184 farm attacks, 29 murders and more than 300 victims, with firearms involved in at least 45% of attacks.

South Africa already recognises that certain crime patterns require specialised investigation. Cash-in-transit robberies, taxi violence, rhino poaching and other organised crimes are treated as distinct priority-crime phenomena because of their recurring patterns, organised nature and wider impact – even though the underlying offences may include murder, robbery, assault and firearms violations. Farm attacks exhibit many of these same characteristics, while also threatening rural communities, agricultural production and food security. We therefore call on the South African Government and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) to classify farm attacks as a national priority crime and provide the specialised investigative capacity needed to identify, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks responsible.