Johannesburg – While fewer farm attacks were recorded this year, the number of those killed in the attacks was marginally higher than last year, the AfriForum Research Institute said on Thursday.
Researcher Lorraine Claasen said 62 farm murders were recorded in the 270 farm attacks reported this year. Last year, 61 farm murders were recorded in 279 attacks. “It’s disturbing that more murders were committed in [fewer] farm attacks.
It shows that attackers are not cautious to kill,” said Claasen.”Sixty-two fatalities are shocking, and in most attacks, only the content of safes, cash and/or firearms were stolen,” she said.
Gauteng recorded the highest number of fatal farm attacks, followed by Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Claasen said this was unacceptable. “We cannot allow this shocking statistic to repeat itself in 2016. AfriForum will continue putting pressure on government and international role players to get farm murders declared a priority crime.
“We shall also continue establishing community safety networks across the country to improve the safety of communities in rural as well as urban areas,” she said.
Source: Fewer farm attacks but more farmer murders in 2015 | News24