Agri SA shocked by murders
2009-12-07 22:33
Pretoria - The murder of two farmers and three farm workers since last Thursday highlighted the rural community's vulnerability, Agri SA said.
"These incidents illustrate that agriculture remains the target of criminals who have no regard for the rights of others," said the farming body's president Johannes Möller in a statement on Monday.
A farmer, PM Cilliers, was shot dead during a botched robbery on his farm Loraine outside Ceres in the Western Cape on Friday.
Three workers - two elderly people and another man - were shot dead in an argument, allegedly by a supervisor with a hunting rifle, on the farm Nooitgedacht outside Beaufort West on Saturday afternoon.
On Thursday evening, Gawie Hough, 42, was shot dead, allegedly by a disgruntled former worker, on a farm in the Roos-senekal district in Mpumalanga, Beeld newspaper reported.
Rural safety vital
Möller said rural safety was vital for sustained agricultural production and job opportunities, as well as for investor confidence.
"I hope that the coming festive season will not again be characterised by an escalation in crime aimed at farming communities and their property."
According to the chairperson of Agri SA's rural safety committee Andre Botha: "The safety of the farming community is a high priority for Agri SA, but despite various attempts, the organisation has been unable to secure a meeting with the minister [of police]."
Agri SA intended hosting a crime conference early next year where, among other things, resolutions adopted at the Rural Summit in 1998 would be discussed.
"We would like to meet with the minister prior to this conference to discuss the content of this conference as well as possible solutions to the high incidence of crime in the agricultural sector."
"I believe it is essential that the minister should demonstrate his interest in this conference and in crime in general, at least through dialogue with an important role player such as Agri SA."
- SAPA