Mthethwa disregards farm murder crisis, says AfriForum

AfriForum accused the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, of deliberately disregarding the magnitude of the farm murder crisis in South Africa, and being unfeeling towards the victims of this catastrophe. This was in reaction to Mr Mthethwa's remarks this morning at a breakfast session of The New Age newspaper, where Mthethwa criticized AfriForum's campaign against farm murders and indicated that farms do not warrant special attention from the Police (see report).

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, Mthethwa is callously disregarding the fact that a South African farmer's chances of being murdered are more than twice as high as those of a police officer, and more than three times higher than those of an ordinary citizen. "Farming has become the most dangerous occupation in the country, and if that does not warrant the classification of farm murders as a priority crime, it must mean that the government does not value the lives of farmers, their families or their employees," Kriel said.

Kriel believes that the Minister is purposely turning a blind eye to the extreme violence and brutality that characterize farm murders. "Since 2007 the Police have been trying to disguise the violence and disproportionately high incidence of farm attacks by refusing to release statistics on these attacks." Kriel added.

According to Kriel, it is a disgrace that the Minister should use breakfast sessions of The New Age newspaper, which cost taxpayers millions of rands, as a platform to show his indifference towards the agricultural community, who also happen to be taxpayers.

Statement issued by Kallie Kriel, CEO, AfriForum, January 31 2013

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