The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply saddened by the senseless murder yesterday of Anna-Marie Rohrs the wife of an Estcourt KZN farmer. This is yet again another murder of a farmers' wife in the KZN Midlands.

The DA extends its heartfelt condolences to Alex Rohrs and his family. This is a family which has done so much for the people of all races in the area and in particular for the people who work on the farm.

This murder follows soon after the brutal farm murders of Hilda Linyene, Zakwe Mlongwe and Loraine Karg. Rural safety remains a problem of immense magnitude which the ANC simply does not take seriously enough. The disbanding of the Commandos has left rural people vulnerable to the brutal and vicious attacks such as the attack on Mrs Rohrs that has left her dead and her family bereft.

Whilst the SAPS spends millions of rands on fancy offices and a house for Police Commissioner Bheki Cele, the SAPS remains with far too few police members and other resources to protect innocent South Africans from the violent and other crime that is rampant in South Africa. Whilst the SAPS are to be congratulated for apprehending a suspect, this is little comfort for the Rohrs family who have lost their beloved wife and mother.

The DA calls upon the Minister of police as well as the KZN MEC for Safety and Security to take their responsibility for the safety of all South Africans in particular the extremely vulnerable rural people seriously. They must make the presence of members of the SAPS in rural areas visible and extensive. Having police members sitting in distant police stations without access to motor vehicles will not save other rural people from attack, rape and murder. 

Statement issued by Alf Lees, MP, Democratic Alliance member of the NCOP, October 27 2010

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