These areas most at risk of farm attacks - study
3 300 pairs of shoes symbolise the scope of farm attacks
Living on a farm or a smallholding in Gauteng and, on top of that, being older than 60 years place people in the category of being the most vulnerable targets for farm attacks in South Africa. According to research carried out on attacks listed in Kraal Uirgewers' latest book, Treurgrond: Die realiteit van plaasaanvalle, 1990-2012, Gauteng is the most dangerous province in the country for farm and smallholding residents. More than 19,8% of the 3 319 farm attacks recorded over the 23-year period between 1990 and 2012 occurred in Gauteng. The three other northern provinces - Mpulamanga, North West and Limpopo - are the second, third and fourth most dangerous provinces respectively, as 15,3% of the attacks were recorded in Mpumalanga, 15,2% in North West and 12,7% in Limpopo.
The Free State (11,8%), KwaZulu-Natal (11,5%), the Eastern Cape (7%) and the Western Cape (4,7%) are ranked fifth to eighth. The Northern Cape is firmly in the position as the "safest province", as approximately 1,6% of the attacks were recorded in that province. (These figures are based on the number of attacks listed for each province in Treurgrond and are not in relation to the number of residents or the number of farms and smallholdings in the provinces.)
These and other alarming figures were revealed today during the launch of Treurgrond at the Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum, east of Pretoria. At the launch 3 319 pairs of shoes were put on display, symbolising the number of farm attacks listed in the book. The number of murder victims was indicated by means of a red ribbon on 1 610 pairs of shoes. Treurgrond describes the attacks on at least 5 818 direct victims of farm attacks over the period 1990 to 2012.
Further research has shown that an average of three attackers are involved in each farm attack and, in some cases, there are as many as 10 attackers. It is clear that attackers choose to work in groups. Approximately 86% of attacks are carried out by groups of two or more attackers.