Minister and AfriForum agree to initiative to combat farm murders and other rural violence

Mr Senzeni Zokwana, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and a delegation from AfriForum met in Pretoria this morning to discuss farm murders, as well as other rural violence and community relations in rural areas.

During the meeting, the Minister and AfriForum agreed that the Minister, through his department, will facilitate an initiative to bring together role-players across a wide spectrum to launch a joint front against farm attacks and other rural violence. The aim of the initiative is also to help improve cooperation on local level between the various role-players in local communities.

The parties agreed that the statement by Lt-Gen. Khomotso Phahlane, acting National Police Commissioner, namely that farm murders and livestock theft would be treated as priority crimes, had been a step in the right direction. The parties further agreed that, apart from the police’s promised actions, it was also necessary that the support and cooperation of role-players across a wide spectrum should be enlisted so that communities could tackle burning issues in rural areas together. Some of the role-players that the Minister will enlist include agricultural unions, local governments, community safety initiatives and other community organisations.

The Minister said:

“It is important that we fight this problem jointly, as it is only when we work together that we will end these unnecessary killings. We will convene this forum as soon possible in order to craft a way forward on how to combat this battle.”

Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, described the meeting with Minister Zokwana as constructive. “AfriForum’s country-wide community safety initiatives work hard to create safer communities, and will, in every South African’s interest, cooperate to help create better cooperation between communities and to improve community relations,” Kriel added.