Extracts from Chapter Two of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Farm Attacks, July 2003:

THE VICTIMS OF FARM ATTACKS

Race of the victims

Because of the racial connotation being given to farm attacks by certain individuals and organisations, the [SAPS] Crime Information Analysis Centre started making breakdowns of figures along racial lines from 2001 onwards. (See Table 24)

In 2001, white people made up 61.6% of the victims, black people 33.3%, Asians 4.4% and coloured 0.7%. Although the CIAC does not have accurate figures for previous years, it notes in its 2001 report that the black people are increasingly being victimised. Unfortunately they do not have any figures for the previous years.

The Committee also analysed the NOCOC database to determine the racial composition of the victims of farm attacks. Prior to 2002, the NOCOC database did not specifically state the race of the victims and the Committee had to rely on various indicators, including the name of the victim. In the South African context, however, this is an accurate way in which to determine the race of a person. In many instances the race of the victims could not be determined, but the race of some 3306 victims could be determined fairly accurately. This number is more than big enough to be a fairly reliable sample. (See Table 25.)

The figures would seem to indicate that the proportion of white victims is in fact becoming smaller, although there is a possibility that the apparent increase may partly be due to the fact that there is a greater coverage of attacks on other people.

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Status of the victims of farm attacks

During 2001 some 974 (69.7%) of the victims were either the owners, lessees or managers of the farms or smallholdings, and their dependants. Some 412 or 29.5% were employees or their families, and 12 or 0.9% were visitors. (See Table 29.)

*This category includes lessees, managers and their dependants.

Source: SAPS website (see here)

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