FF PLUS: Almost more dangerous to be a farmer than a police officer

Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) leader Pieter Groenewald told Parliament during a debate on farm murders that there has been 2393 murders on farms since 1991. 

"There is a perception that when we talk about farm murders we only talk about white people. According to research, about 40% of victims of farm murders are black people," he said. 

Groenewald says according to police statistics, farm murders have only decreased because farmers are increasing their own security. 

"In Upington you have one police vehicle and four police members for 184 farms, I appeal that we look at this," he said. 

The ANC's Francois Beukman, who is also the chairperson of the portfolio committee on police, told the National Assembly that criminals see farms as soft targets.

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"Farms are often seen by criminals as soft targets for cash and firearms, largely because of the isolated nature of farms. Rural and farming communities are vulnerable to crime as resources are generally spread in favour of urban areas," he said. 

Beukman said although farm murders are often violent and brutal, there is no evidence to back up claims that farm murders are unique in nature. 

The DA's Annette Steyn says farm murders, like any other murder, are barbaric and inhumane in nature. 

"Crime and violence is affecting and dehumanising all people in farming communities, irrespective of their racial identities. Why does the government refuse to take decisive action to protect its farming and rural communities? Instead, we have been seeing political leaders using rhetoric that only serves to incite hate. The President sings 'bring back my machine gun', while people are murdered by gangs. Others tell their followers to invade land illegally while singing 'one settler one bullet'. We cannot allow this to spiral into racial hatred," she said. 

The Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) MP Hlengiwe Hlope, reminded the FF Plus that two white farmers recently appeared in court for forcing a black person into a coffin for trespassing, and a man was shot in Limpopo by someone who claims to have mistook the person for a monkey. 

"There are a few examples of widespread phenomenon of racial abuse and killing of black people, black workers in particular by white farmers. Last year a Danish filmmaker released a documentary called Bitter Grapes, which explores the working conditions of farm workers in South Africa. It depicts instances of long and exploitation of workers, terrible living conditions and apartheid area arrangements. We have not seen FF Plus respond to this," she charged.  

Hlope said, in general, South Africa has a serious crime problem - on average nine people are killed in the Cape Flats every day.