'I want a white policeman'
2006-07-26 11:07
Johannesburg - Farmers in Mpumalanga should work with policemen, regardless of their colour, to stop farm killings in the province, police said on Tuesday evening.
A few incidents of black officers being chased away by farmers when trying to investigate the crimes had been reported, said Superintendent Botsotso Moukangwe of the Middelburg serious and violent crimes unit.
"Last week some farmers told black officers sent to Marble Hall and Volkrust that they wanted white policemen and chased them away, despite identifying themselves," said Moukangwe.
The farmers refused to speak to the officers, saying they were "waiting for white policemen".
He said the farmers only spoke to police after he sent a white officer.
"Unfortunately we do not have a thousand white policemen to investigate these cases as they would prefer.
"They should just learn to work with every police officer to fight the crimes," Moukangwe said, adding that not all blacks attacked farmers.
He said it had become common there for officers to be chased away in that fashion.
"About seven" people have been arrested in connection with a number of farm attacks in different parts of Mpumalanga, Captain Leonard Hlathi said earlier.
More arrests are expected, he said.
The attacks had taken place in areas including Carolina, Nelspruit and Burgersfort.
- SAPA