NATIONAL NEWS - Despite a drop in the number of farm attacks recorded in the 2020/2021 financial year, there was an increase in the number of farm murders, according to AfriForum.

The organisation’s head of policy and action Ernst Roets said 59 people were murdered on farms in South Africa, compared to 41 in the previous year.

“Although there was a decline in the number of farm attacks in the 2020/2021 financial year compared to the previous financial year, there was an increase in farm murders.”

Roets said this was concerning due to the excessive violence used in the execution of the crimes.

“In 22% of these attacks, victims were brutally tortured by burning them with irons, by battering or kicking them to death or by repeatedly stabbing them with a sharp object,” he said.

He said 64% of the victims in the attacks were over the age of 50 and that items that were usually stolen in the attacks were firearms, vehicles and electronic appliances.

However, Roets also noted that nothing was stolen in at least six farm attacks.

“The fact that farm murders and the brutality of the attacks have increased despite a decrease in the number of attacks is extremely worrying,” he said.

Releasing the fourth quarter crime statistics this week, police minister Bheki Cele said 11 people were killed in 10 attacks which occurred on farms and small-holdings in the first three months of the year.

The statistics were from 1 January to 31 March.

“Four of those murdered were farm dwellers, four were farmers or farm owners and two of the victims were farm employees while one was a night guard at a farm workshop,” Cele said.

Listen to a sound clip on Caxton publication, Alberton Record