AfriForum presents action plan to the SAHRC for the prevention of farm murders

AfriForum presented the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) with a list of ten proposals of ways to prevent farm murders. This action plan forms part of a report which AfriForum presented to the SAHRC during a public hearing about farm murders held by the commission in Johannesburg on 15 and 16 September.

The following points were broadly explained by AfriForum during their presentation to the SAHRC:

• Farm murders are a unique crime due to various reasons. The uniqueness of these crimes justifies a unique counter strategy.
• While the public’s appeal for intervention regarding farm murders increased over the years, reaction from the government to these crimes has decreased.
• The government and the Department of Police has a careless attitude towards farm murders, the victims of farm murders and those who request farm murders to be prioritised.
• The explosive political climate contributes to this problem. South African farmers are used as punching bags and violence against farmers are often romanticised.
• Certain obstacles in the fight against farm murders are identified in the presentation and report.
• Various case studies are included in the report.
• A list of ten proposals for the immediate prevention of farm murders was presented to the SAHRC.

Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO for AfriForum explained that the fight against farm murders are one of the largest campaigns driven by AfriForum and the failure to act against this crime makes the government compliant to the problem. The hearing took place as a reaction to an urgent request submitted by AfriForum.

The report consists of 42 pages and the appendices consists of 184 pages. Proposals regarding the prevention of farm murders can be summarised as follows:

1. The existence of a crisis must be acknowledged by the government.
2. Farm murders must be handled as a priority crime.
3. The transparency regarding statistics is a requirement.
4. A structure to replace the previous commando system must be implemented.
5. Politicians who romanticise violence or encourage tension between races must be called to order.
6. The rural safety plan must be adapted and implemented.
7. Victims must be better supported and the violation of victims’ human rights must be addressed.
8. Expert units for rural safety must be created.
9. Better support must be given to community safety networks.
10. Negligence of police officers and prosecutors must be addressed urgently.