US investigation confirms farm murders are not “ordinary crimes” – AfriForum
AfriForum this morning again called for the prioritisation of farm attacks after an investigation into farm attacks by the US State Department’s Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) found that farm attacks are indeed not “ordinary crimes”. The DRL released its findings following its mission to South Africa last night. Considering the bureau’s findings, which criticise local politicians’ failure to condemn the “Kill the Boer” chant, the civil rights organisation also demands that President Cyril Ramaphosa urgently condemn the chant in public.
The bureau found that farm attacks are not ordinary crimes, but that in certain documented cases, victims are tortured or murdered without anything being stolen.
AfriForum stresses that the ANC-led government’s failure to deal with farm murders with the necessary seriousness is further damaging the diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US. The bureau argues in an X-post, among other things, that “breakdowns in law and order are not conducive to growth or collaboration with the United States. The South African government must speak clearly and act decisively to address crime and condemn the violence.”
The civil rights organisation has meanwhile welcomed the DRL’s findings and emphasised that the international focus placed on farm attacks plays a critical role in local efforts to have farm attacks declared priority crimes. According to AfriForum, the bureau’s investigation also places emphasis on the reality of rural crime as well as the unique and violent nature and scope of farm attacks.
The bureau found that violence characterises farm attacks. They also highlighted the government’s failure to respond adequately. US officials found that according to statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS), 296 farm attacks and 49 farm murders occurred in 2023, and that the number of murders increased to 55 in 2024. The report also confirms that victims are often older and isolated, and that police response to these crimes is either slow or non-existent.
AfriForum is encouraged by the international acknowledgement of the crisis of farm attacks. The organisation is convinced that this is the result of years of consistent advocacy and awareness-raising aimed at exposing the seriousness of farm attacks and murders to the local and international community.
“We are grateful that the United States has confirmed what we have been emphasising for years, namely that farm attacks are not ordinary crimes,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety. “Farm attacks are brutal, targeted attacks that are often accompanied by torture, murder without anything being stolen and politically charged rhetoric such as ‘Kill the Boer’. The ANC-led government’s silence on this issue is shameful. When the government refuses to condemn hate speech and refuses to prioritise the protection of our farmers, they are complicit in this crisis.”
AfriForum also welcomes the DRL’s findings regarding the motive for farm attacks. The bureau found that in many instances poverty is not the motivation behind farm attacks. In addition, they also highlighted the role of local leaders who chant slogans like “Kill the Boer” at rallies and how the same slogans were also echoed by perpetrators during attacks.
“AfriForum thanks the US government for the clear and principled stance taken in this regard, where others simply remain silent. We therefore call on the South African government to take this wake-up call seriously and treat farm attacks as the national priority crime, because it clearly is a priority – just like cash-in-transit robberies and rhino poaching – and requires specialised attention. The time for denial is over,” concludes Broodryk.
