Middelrus farm attack: DA calls for united effort to halt the scourge of rural crime

10 November 2021

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) notes with grave concern the increase in farm attacks in the province during the last few weeks.

The most recent attack, which took place last night in Middelrus – between Greytown and Mooi River – saw an elderly woman attacked with a panga and robbed. It follows just 24 hours after another farm attack near Estcourt.

There can be no doubt that crime in KZN’s rural areas is once again on the rise. While the pattern of increased crime in such regions ahead of the holiday season is well-known, it seems that both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) have been caught completely unawares. This is evidenced by their failure to put proactive measures in place to deal with this matter.

The negative impact of the severe Covid-19 lockdown, coupled with the July unrest in our province have had a devastating effect on food security within our country. As a nation we cannot afford to see the security of our farms deteriorate any further.

At the same time, there remain politicians who are only interested in serving their own agendas and who are guilty of fueling worsening relationships between communities in our rural areas.

Now is the time for calm and the DA calls on KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala and his ANC-run cabinet to show decisive leadership by restoring order to KZN’s rural areas.

We also call on SAPS to increase its capacity within our rural areas, particularly those identified as hotspots, now and during the holiday season. This must include working closely with security companies, farmers, and farm workers to prevent and fight the scourge of rural crime.

In addition, we call on SAPS to assign a specialised task force to investigate rural crime, whether it be alleged farm attacks or alleged attacks on farm workers, so that these crimes can be solved efficiently and speedily. The drawing out of investigations only leads to increased tensions.

It is critical that all stakeholders, including our rural communities unite behind the cause of rural safety. Only then will we be able to halt this terrible scourge that haunts our province.

Issued by Martin Meyer, DA KZN Spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, 10 November 2021