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Increase in violent crime raising concerns about safety of rural communities, farmers
The 2016-17 crime statistics, as announced by the police, indicate that violent crimes have again increased during the past financial year. "Violent crime has increased constantly over the past four financial years and includes those crimes to which farmers and rural communities are most exposed," said Kobus Breytenbach, chair of Agri SA's rural safety committee.
©Duncan Noakes via 123RF
Violent crime includes murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, among which the dreaded so-called Trio Crimes (car hijacking and house and business robberies). Murder increased by 1.8%, armed robbery by 6.4%, home burglaries by 7.4% and car hijackings by 14.5%. Trio crimes combined increased by a shocking 8.4%.
Farm attacks
Although all farmers and rural communities worldwide are subjected to crime, South Africa farmers are the exception given the extreme brutality of farm attacks.
Over the past few months, many farming communities have been traumatised by the gruesome farm attacks where the victims were subjected to extreme torture.
More than 8,500 farm attacks and 925 murders have occurred over a period of 14 years, which speaks volumes about the ongoing criminal assault on farmers and farm workers.
“Such an onslaught is not conducive to food security. It is also important to remember that agriculture is the only sector that raised a glimmer of hope for the economy during the first and second quarters of 2017. In the first quarter agriculture contributed 22% to the economy, which increased to 33.6% in the second quarter,” said Breytenbach.
Agri Securitas Trust Fund
Although Agri SA will continue to liaise with the police and all state departments on a policy level to facilitate the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy, the Agri Securitas Trust Fund is a practical instrument for making a difference in farming communities. The Agri Securitas Trust Fund strives to contribute towards the funding of communication networks in rural communities, trauma counselling at a local level and the erection of booms.
In addition, the Trust Fund attends on an ongoing basis to the underlying misperceptions that can possibly contribute towards farm attacks and murders and is trying to effectively change these perceptions through liaison with the government and rural communities.
Agri SA
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