AfriForum: Increase in farm attacks in 2019
Lobby group AfriForum believe that an increase in farm attacks over the past year is proof that the police are ill-equipped to deal with rural crime.
The group, together with farming organisation Saai, briefed the media in Centurion on Wednesday on the latest statistics on farm attacks and murders.
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The statistics reveal that there have been 552 farm attacks in 2019, an 27% increase from 2018.
There has, however, only been a marginal increase in the number of murders compared to last year.
Three more murders were reported in 2019 compared to the previous year.
AfriForum’s head of community safety Ian Cameron says rural communities cannot rely on government for protection.
“AfriForum’s data shows that rural communities are starting to fight back and become more prepared.
“It is clear that we cannot rely on government to use measures to safeguard rural communities and therefore it is very important for people to know how to protect themselves.
“ The significant increase in farm attacks in 2019 proves that police do not have the capacity or power to prevent violent crimes on farms.”