“How many more farmers, Cachalia?” – AfriForum
AfriForum demands urgent action from Firoz Cachalia, Acting Minister of Police, following the brutal farm attack on Donovan Marx yesterday morning (28 October), during which he was severely assaulted and his ears were cut off.
This incident once again underscores the necessity for the government to acknowledge the seriousness of farm attacks and to implement a focused strategy to combat these crimes.
In a letter to Cachalia, AfriForum requests, among other things, that the South African Police Service (SAPS) and politicians responsible for policing demonstrate – through concrete action – that violent crimes against farmers and rural residents are being taken seriously.
The organisation states that it is not enough for the SAPS and politicians to express their concern following an attack such as this. These statements must be followed by effective crime prevention, thorough investigations, and the successful prosecution of perpetrators.
According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s chief spokesperson for Community Safety, farm attacks can no longer be treated merely as ordinary criminal incidents when victims are subjected to extreme violence such as this. “The attack on Donovan demands an urgent response and raises serious questions as to whether the government truly understands the threat that rural communities face on a daily basis.”
AfriForum points out that the isolated location of many farms and smallholdings makes residents particularly vulnerable when violent criminals strike. Effective policing requires intelligence-driven investigations, a rapid response capability, and meaningful cooperation between the SAPS and legitimate community safety structures.
The organisation therefore reiterates its call for farm attacks to be officially classified as priority crimes, and for a dedicated national strategy to be implemented to prevent these attacks, strengthen investigations, and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“If the government can develop specialised strategies to combat other forms of organised and violent crime, there is no reason why farm attacks should be handled any differently. We need targeted policing, sufficient resources, and formal cooperation between the SAPS and community safety structures. AfriForum will continue to demand accountability and push for practical measures that provide better protection for rural communities,” says Broodryk.
AfriForum will continue to mobilise and train communities through its 178 neighborhood and farm watches. The organisation invests in the training of volunteers and the development of specialised response capabilities to equip communities to play an active role in their own safety and, where possible, to cooperate with law enforcement.
“AfriForum will not accept that brutal attacks on farmers and rural residents are met merely with words. We demand decisive action from the police and political leadership to address farm attacks with the urgency and seriousness that they require,” concludes Broodryk.
