AfriForum embarks on comprehensive study into farm murders

AfriForum appointed a researcher to conduct a comprehensive study to find answers to the mysteries surrounding farm murders. The study will include over 100 case studies across South Africa. AfriForum has called on the public to contact the civil rights organisation if they have personally been affected by farm attacks or if they have any information which could be of value to the study.

“There are too many unanswered questions,” Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO at AfriForum said.

“We want to determine whether there’s a trend in farm attacks. The debate about the motive behind farm murders also deserves further investigation. Then there are questions about how often farm attacks are executed by foreign nationals, how often it’s as a result of labour disputes between farmers and their workers and which safety measures are most effective in curbing farm attacks.”

The study will be conducted by Lorraine Claasen, an expert in farm attacks. Claasen will, with the assistance of the local AfriForum structures, conduct over a hundred case studies across the country. Interviews will be done with victims who have survived farm attacks as well as with loved-ones of people who were murdered on farms, farm workers and convicted farm murderers.

Subjects which will be covered in the study, include the following:

• The efficacy of specific safety measures;
• The compiling of statistics relating to farm attacks;
• The cost implication of a farm murder;
• The psychological impact of a farm attack/murder on victims;
• The impact thereof on farm workers;
• The efficacy of police probes after farm murders; and
• The impact of hate speech and political incitement.

AfriForum has called on the public to bring any information regarding farm attacks/murders that they have to the attention of the organisation for the purposes of the study.

“No information will be too insignificant to report to us,” Claasen said.

• Any member of the public who want to share their information can e-mail AfriForum to stopthemurders@afriforum.co.za.