Minister Nathi Mthtethwa, Minister of Police today at Agri SA's Rural Crime Conference highlighted and condemned the continued acts of violence and crime aimed against the rural communities especially the murders of the farming community. He further said the police and all affected groups will together formulate a comprehensive strategy to ensure rural safety. He also acknowledged the farming community as an asset for the country and also for food security.
The high incidence of violence and lack of respect for life and private property in South Africa are issues that impact negatively on community safety, stability, confidence and development. This problem manifests in crime accompanied by a high level of brutality and trauma, the motives for which are often questioned. The incidence of farm attacks and general criminality are but some of the threats that have an adverse effect on individual safety and the production capacity of South African agriculture. Without a safe and prosperous farming sector, food security and rural stability in South Africa cannot be guaranteed. The farming community's right to safety is one of the most important rights within the country's democratic dispensation that are affected by crime.
Since the Rural Safety and Security Summit held on 10 October 1998, various policy changes have been accepted regarding the handling of rural safety. The Crime Conference aims to reach consensus on future processes and policy to deal with rural safety and to strengthen existing strategies. The Conference resolved as follows:
1. Agri SA supports the rule of law as a prerequisite for a fair and equitable society. The spate of senseless murders, brutality and general criminality threatening the safety and production capacity of the agricultural community is condemned. Agri SA also expects the government to indicate at the highest level through its actions and statements that it condemns this phenomenon, especially insofar as it affects agriculture.
2. The causes of attacks and other crimes aimed at the farming community are complex and multi-faceted, the least being the vulnerability of the farming community. As in the case of crime within South Africa as a whole, these contributing factors include aspects such as a culture of violence and evasion of punishment, contempt for legislation, socio-economic problems, unemployment and poverty in rural and urban areas. A safety approach alone cannot solve the crime problem in the long term. Agri SA expects the government to implement an integrated crime prevention and management plan which involves all state departments to effectively manage the fight against crime in a coordinated manner at all government levels. This includes a streamlined criminal justice system.
3. The police and the government have a responsibility in terms of the Constitution to prevent, combat and investigate crime; to maintain public order; to protect and safeguard the people of South Africa and their property; and to maintain and enforce the law. An adequately trained, competent, non-racist and responsible police force must be in place to enforce the law without bias. Purposeful action is needed to eliminate corrupt elements in the police force and to maintain a satisfactory level of service delivery. Members of the police force who evade their responsibility and who are guilty of criminal offences or act unlawfully towards the farming community should be held accountable.
4. It is customary to falsely accuse the commercial farming community, in particular, of human rights abuses, illegal farm evictions, etc. Statements with strong racist undertones which encourage violence or hatred aimed at commercial agriculture could create a climate conducive to retribution and pose a safety threat. Alleged hate speech and inflammatory remarks in whatever form will not be tolerated and Agri SA will take the necessary steps against those who are guilty of this.
5. To combat attacks and criminality aimed at the farming community, effective law enforcement is of immediate importance. Agri SA accepts the Rural Protection Strategy, supported by the policy of sector policing and reservists, as an adequate policy and strategy to curb rural crime. Agri SA expects the police force to ensure that these strategies and policies are consistently applied and implemented as required.
The rural community has a particular need for an effectively implemented sector policing system for which adequate manpower and equipment are made available.
The dispensation for reservists must make it possible for volunteers in the farming community to be incorporated to a greater extent into the police force within their own sector than is currently the case. All legitimate initiatives by the farming community aimed at protecting themselves should be incorporated into policy.
6. Private initiatives by the farming community, within the legal framework and in conjunction with the police force, are acknowledged. In this regard, the financial contribution made by the Agri Securitas Trust Fund to acquire additional resources and to combat crime more effectively, is welcomed. The contributions that the Agri Securitas Trust Fund makes to influence perceptions and behaviour in order to create a safer rural environment, are recognised.
7. Stock theft has a negative impact on the profitability of commercial stock farmers and especially on emerging farmers who in one incident could lose their total herd. This has an adverse effect on the successful finalisation of the land reform process and the empowerment of emerging farmers. Assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for emerging farmers to mark their animals should be considered.
There is appreciation for the retention of the specialist stock theft units which have not been closed. Vacant posts within the units should be filled and permanent capacity should be created for the training of members as well as state prosecutors.
Members of the stock theft units who render excellent service should receive recognition on an incentive basis. Mobile response units should be created by the police force to launch operations swiftly. Heavier sentences through legislation should be implemented and the process of bail and parole for stock thieves should be applied more strictly. Finalisation of the Pounds Act is a priority.
8. Government is expected to commit to sustained improvement, including adequate funding and harmonisation of the working and functioning of agencies of the criminal justice system to serve as an effective deterrent. In particular, the eradication of corruption should receive priority and persons found guilty should face dismissal.
9. The police force should continue to keep record of all crime incidents within farming areas. Such information should be analysed to determine trends and should be made available on a quarterly basis. Members of the farming community should report all incidents of crime on farms and smallholdings to the police so that the actual magnitude of the problem can be determined and analysed on an ongoing basis. Such information is also necessary to be able to allocate appropriate resources to local police stations in accordance with crime trends.
10. Strict and consistent maintenance of the integrity of South Africa's borders is important for trade, disease control, combating of crime and illegal entry, and also to properly protect landowner's right to use their property, against cross-border interference and crime. Shortcomings in maintaining such integrity should be addressed immediately and consistently by the government without burdening the farming community with expensive and lengthy legal processes.
11. To prevent unlawful access to farms, the farm protocol will in future have to be applied more strictly by the farming community as a further measure to protect the community against crime and unlawful access to private property. The right of state departments to gain access to farms to perform their lawful functions is recognised.
Persons found trespassing must be reported without delay by the land owners.
Issued by Agri SA, Directorate: Corporate Liaison, March 8 2010
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