AfriForum demands pro-active strategy for farm murders

AfriForum today said the events which took place during the past week confirm that farm murders cannot be stemmed by applying the normal legal processes, and that only a focussed counterstrategy will offer a sustainable solution to the crisis. Hennie Bentley (73) and Gerrit Myburgh (78) were murdered in the past week, the same week the murderers of an elderly Free State couple were sentenced to life imprisonment.

AfriForum welcomed the sentencing of Oupa Mokoena (47) and Ezekiele Mguni (30) for the murders on Ernest (77) and Annatjie (76) van Rooyen, but added that the solution for the farm murder crisis will have to involve more than prison sentences for individuals. The organisation published a blog on its website today, citing 10 reasons why farm murders should be prioritized.

The Van Rooyens were murdered on their farm Somerset near Parys in the Free State in January. Ernest’s body was found on the floor of their farm store. Annatjie was found in a freezer, where she had suffocated after being stuffed into it alive. Bentley died this weekend after his family was attacked on their farm outside Vanderbijlpark last week. Myburgh was murdered on his smallholding outside Heidelberg last Sunday evening.

“Following up is important, but prevention is crucial. The conclusion of an individual incident does not bring us any closer to a solution for a collective crisis,” said Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum.

“Farm murders are out of control and the only way to curb this phenomenon effectively is to implement a focussed counterstrategy. There are many specialists who are willing to assist. All the Government has to do, is to listen.”

Roets also said that AfriForum will launch its intensified campaign against farm murders next month.