Attacks on farm workers increasing

2allmankind via pixabay.com

In the most recent incident Josef Matiheo, a farm manager, was attacked on Tuesday night, 21 July 2015, on a farm between Winburg and Virginia. The district has been the target of criminals the past few weeks with solar panels of up to R120,000 and generators that have been stolen while frequent robberies also occur in homes.

Farm workers under attack

Matiheo was attacked and assaulted by two men outside his house. His hands were bound and some of his belongings and food were stolen, after which he was hit with an object on his neck and passed out. Alf Bronner, farmer and businessman from Hennenman, says Matiheo could escape while the men were busy counting their pickings. A seriously injured Matiheo fled to the neighbouring farm from where Bronner was contacted. Bronner is very grateful for the Police's speedy reaction because he and the Police's canine unit arrived on the farm at the same time.

The canine unit immediately started following the suspects' tracks, and they are at the scene again today to search for the suspects. Tommie Esterhuyse, chairperson of the FSA Law and Order Committee, says in the three incidents on farms the past two weeks, the Police reacted quickly on crisis calls, and they want to thank the officers and senior officials for their service. An open communication channel exists between FSA's leaders and the senior officials of the Police, which improves service delivery in many instances.

Bronner says Matiheo has been working for him for 25 years and he trusts him with his life. He is concerned about Matiheo's injuries and he will monitor him closely, "because he is worth more than gold." Esterhuyse says the safety of farm workers is a major concern. If a farm worker is murdered or he or she is injured so badly that he or she cannot continue with their work, it will have an impact on poverty in the community and it will impact the working of the farming enterprise.

Workers to be included in safety contingency plans

FSA wants to encourage farmers and safety networks to compile their contingency plans in such a way that farm workers are included. In some areas in the province farm managers and workers already take part in blue/white light operations as part of safety structures. "It is important that farmers and workers mobilise themselves to fill the spaces that exist in the Rural Safety Plan and that farmers and workers are empowered to keep themselves as well as their communities safe," says Henk Vermeulen, chief executive officer of FSA.

During a meeting of Agri SA on 22 July 2015, Johannes Möller, president, remarked that 67 people were killed by security forces on 16 June 1976. He referred to the fact that this day is commemorated annually, also by the rural communities of the country. According to Möller it is ironic though that the average amount of farmers murdered per year, is also 67.

"The statistics quoted earlier indicates that not just commercial farmers are targeted, but that everyone on farms is a target. Free State Agriculture and the industry requests all communities and the whole country to stand up against the senseless and so often cruel murders on farms with the same intensity that they commemorate 16 June 1976," says Vermeulen. "We need the same emotion and urgency from everyone to curb these crimes."