AfriForum rejects Mchunu’s downplaying of farm murders; provides the real numbers.

[Nat Quinn]

Afriforum Media Safety Statement.

AfriForum rejects Mchunu’s downplaying of farm murders; provides the real numbers.

Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu’s, claim that only one farmer was murdered in South Africa between October and December 2024 is factually incorrect and dismissive of the real, ongoing crisis of farm attacks and murders in the country. According to AfriForum at least 10 farm murders took place during this period – five farm owners, one farm manager, three employees and one security guard.

These incidents are well-documented and highlight the continuous threat faced by those living and working in rural areas. Mchunu’s misleading statement is a gross misrepresentation of the reality on the ground and an insult to the victims and their families.

Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s chief spokesperson for Community Safety, suggests that Mchunu appears to be unsure about what constitutes a farm murder. The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) own definition of a farm attack is:

“…acts of violence against persons residing on, working on or visiting farms and small holdings; whether with intent to murder, rape, rob or inflict bodily harm. These include farm owners, farm workers and all other citizens of this country, irrespective of race, colour, creed, religion or sex. In addition to that, all acts of violence against the infrastructure and property in rural communities aimed at disrupting legal farming activities as a commercial concern are also included.”

“Mchunu’s failure to acknowledge and apply this definition correctly raises serious concerns about whether the government is truly committed to addressing farm attacks and rural safety,” Broodryk adds.

Just days before Mchunu’s insensitive remarks, an elderly couple was brutally attacked in their farmhouse outside Stanford in the Western Cape. These attacks are not isolated incidents – they are part of a larger, ongoing pattern of violence against farming communities that demands urgent attention.

“These comments by Mchunu are disappointing and outright irresponsible. Attitudes like these are part of the problem, by trying to downplay the seriousness of farm attacks rather than addressing them with the urgency they deserve, the Minister seems to be playing politics. Crime is not a political game – it is a national crisis that requires strong leadership, not denialism,” Broodryk concludes.

The safety of farmers, farmworkers, and rural residents must be a priority for the South African government, in the same way that political killings, taxi violence and other organised crimes get prioritised. Ignoring the problem or attempting to downplay its severity is not a solution, it only emboldens criminals and further weakens public trust in law enforcement.

PUBLISHED by Afriforum 24/02/2025.

 

 

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