AfriForum to take up Stiglingh farm murder with SAHRC

AfriForum will take up the attack on the Stiglingh couple in North West with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), and will request the Commission to take a stance on prioritising farm murders.

The SAHRC confirmed its willingness to discuss the matter with AfriForum yesterday. A date will be scheduled for the meeting within the foreseeable future.

Johan Stiglingh (65) was murdered on his farm in the North-West on Sunday morning. According to media reports, his wife was severely beaten with a baseball bat and raped. She survived the attack.

Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum added that the civil rights organisation had been approached by various people who have lost loved ones in farm attacks. These victims are planning on approaching the SAHRC on this matter and inter alia submit complaints against the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa.

“Farm attacks are not only a violation of the fundamental rights to life, privacy, dignity and bodily integrity,” Roets said. “They also amount to discrimination, because the Minister of Police is more concerned about cable theft than the vicious and brutal murders of farmers.”

AfriForum will present research on farm attacks to the Commission during the meeting and will explain the views of the organisation on the matter. The complaints will be submitted to the SAHRC after the meeting.