'Human life has no value'
2006-06-23 14:01
Bloemfontein - It is time for the government to state unequivocally that South African farmers are not "free booty", the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) said on Friday.
"Human life apparently has no value," Casper Nordier, ACDP leader in Free State, said in reaction to the murder of Bainsvlei farmer Flip Heyneke outside Bloemfontein.
"The latest farm attacks countrywide are committed with such cruelty that one cannot but wonder whether the farm attackers do this on purpose to draw more media attention."
Heyneke, 50, was found tied and hanged in a storeroom on his farm near Bloemfontein by his wife on Wednesday night.
Police spokesperson Inspector Harry Nagel said Heyneke's wife discovered his body about 21:00 in the storeroom, when he did not return home at 20:00, his usual time.
"His hands were tied behind his back and he was hanged."
The ACDP said at least two people had also been murdered in farm attacks in neighbouring provinces in the past week and another approximately six farm attacks took place in the Free State and neighboring provinces in one month's time.
"Three of the victims, one murdered and the other two seriously injured, were black farmers or their family members," said Nordier.
He said those who hanged Heyneke had clearly left a message of contempt to government for abolishing capital punishment.
"It had been known for quite some time that South African farmers statistically have the most dangerous career in the world," said Nordier, adding it was time that South African farmers received more credit for their goodwill.
- SAPA