Release of report on safety and security challenges in farming communities

20 August 2015

The most abhorrent element of the culture of violence in rural farming areas is the unnecessary loss of life, which the agricultural community has not escaped from in the recent past. It is deplorable that incidents of brutality and violence against farming communities persist. Agri SA is deeply concerned about the human suffering this causes for those who depend on agriculture. It is against this backdrop that the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has released its report on safety and security challenges in farming communities (see here – PDF).

Farming communities are vulnerable to violence due to their isolation and lack of access to effective and timeous service delivery, particularly relating to safety and security. The HRC is concerned about the realisation of human rights in farming communities, including the right to safety and security, and the apparent lack thereof was a significant consideration in hosting the hearings in October 2014.

The Commission established that crime and criminality is the major cause of violence against farming community’s and farm owners in particular. In its report, the Commission recognises Agri SA for its submission: The information provided has assisted the panel significantly informing recommendations, particularly in relation to how the lack of safety and security in farming community’s impacts on other issues pertaining to human rights.

In its submission, Agri SA highlighted the negative effects and economic costs of rural crime and the impact it can have on food security in the country. Stock theft, which has a negative impact on the profitability of commercial livestock farmers and in particular emerging farmers, was highlighted. The main recommendations of the report, which was released today, include the following:

-  The need to promote respect for human rights in farming communities.

-  Increased involvement by law enforcement agencies such as SAPS and the NPA in combatting crimes against farming communities.

-  Particular attention should be given to race relations in farming communities during the proposed dialogues.

-  The stereotypes relating to farming in South Africa should be addressed and the good relations on many farms between farm owners and farm workers highlighted.

-  That the same type of relationship observed between Agri SA and SAPS be forged so that members of farming communities become integral to their own safety.

-  The negative stereotypes about farms need to be fiercely combatted.

-  SAPS needs to implement effective policies to deal with stock theft, which includes the appointment of personnel in the vacant positions.

Agri SA welcomes these recommendations, especially the proposed establishment of a special sub-committee by the Joint Crime Prevention and Security Cluster Priority Committee to develop an action plan to address issues raised in the report and to engage with the community.

The organisation also welcomes the Commission’s acknowledgement that SAPS is under-resourced in the farming communities and that the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy is inclusive and sensitive to the needs of rural communities. Agri SA remains of the opinion that SAPS at station level should be capacitated to respond to incidents in the rural community as well as plan and execute joint crime prevention operations to address crime.

The economy as a whole, but also agriculture, needs a society that respects law and order. Now, more than ever before, the agricultural sector relies on the police to curb criminal activities in rural areas. Agri SA will continue to maintain a sound working relationship with the police to assist in curbing rural crime.

Agri SA accepts the Rural Safety Strategy, backed by the Reservist Policy, as well as the policy on sector policing as adequate strategies to combat rural crime. For the effective implementation thereof, the police must ensure that station commanders implement these strategies and policies with the necessary consistency and earnestness.

Statement issued by Mr Kobus Breytenbach, Chair of Agri SA’s Rural Safety Committee, August 20 2015