Dramatic drop in farm attacks

2004-09-09 22:39

Craig Bishop

Pietermaritzburg - The number of farm attacks in KwaZulu-Natal have dropped more than 50% for the first half of 2004, agriculture and environmental affairs MEC Gabriel Ndabandaba said on Thursday.

Addressing the annual congress of the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) he said farm attacks were down from 838 last year, to 345 by June this year.

Murders fell from 75 in 2003 to 54 in the same period.

But both commercial and emerging farmers said the drop in crime had not improved their opinion of the police.

Rather, under-resourced and under-trained police officers had contributed to a lack of confidence in state security forces, they complained.

"I should be training my kids to know the number for the local police station and telling them a policeman is your friend.

"But I don't because I don't believe it myself," said Lisa Roberts of the Umgungundlovu district agricultural council.

Emerging Midlands farmer, Bongwani Gwala, added: "There are not enough patrols in rural areas and not enough police vehicles. "

Midlands police spokesperson Dana Kruger urged the farmers to report problems they experience at their local police station to the area or provincial police commissioners.

Meanwhile, Ndabandaba urged white farmers to help develop their black counterparts.

"When I was education MEC, I appealed to Model C schools to look after poor schools.

"By the same token, white farmers must adopt struggling, black farmers," he urged.

- African Eye