Farm attacks: Theft a factor

2003-08-22 08:00

Marietie Louw

Johannesburg - The great majority of farm attacks are motivated by "the desire to rob or steal".

This is according to a portion of the findings of a report - in Beeld's possession - on farm attacks.

State advocates said violence was motivated by racial hatred, although the attacks were not of a political nature.

Although some farm attacks "have a political undertone, these are in the minority".

One of the independent committee's case studies conducted between 1998 and 2001 found in 32 of 45 attacks there was no rational reason for murdering the victims.

The committee found there was a "misconception" that nothing was stolen during attacks. When the attackers left empty-handed it was because they were surprised and forced to flee.

According to the report farm attacks were more violent than robberies. Victims stood a "greater chance" of being murdered than during transit robberies or burglaries.

On Thursday Beeld reported the ministry of safety and security had not been satisfied with the findings and had referred the report back to the committee. Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said the report, delayed since 2001, should have been released in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Nqakula's spokesperson Les Xingwa refused to elaborate on what the ministers were unhappy with.

Members of the independent committee said on Thursday the report was not sent back. "The nine provincial safety and security MECs will meet with the committe to ask questions and receive further information."

The date of the meeting is not yet known.

A total of 6 122 farm attacks took place between 1991 and 2001, claiming 1 254 lives.

In 2001, 147 people died in 1 011 attacks. Last year 112 died in 1 000 attacks.

The committee found in some cases, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, land occupation had led to attacks. There are indications that occupation will probably increase "and this is a great cause for concern for the committee".

According to interviews with farm attackers in prison it was found most were young, unemployed males with a low level of education and from disfunctional families.

Most attackers said their victims could have avoided violence by not resisting. More than half had no fear of arrest.

According to the report more than half of the farmers and people living on farms have not taken "basic" securtiy precautions, such as erecting fencing and burglar bars, and keeping guard dogs.

- Beeld