Farm attacks and farm murders in South Africa: Statistics point to drastic increase in farm murders

The farm murder and farm attack statistics for the 2016/2017 financial year was announced today by the AfriForum Research Institute (ANI) in Pretoria. The total amount of verified farm attacks for the 2016/2017 period is 357 and the amount of farm murders is a disturbing 74.

AfriForum also handed over a petition against farm murders containing 175 000 names to Pres. Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings today.

Lorraine Claasen, Crime Analyst at ANI, says that farm murders were also subjected to larger international scrutiny this year, especially after citizens of Britain and the Netherlands among others were also recently victims of farm murders in South Africa.

“If the frequency of farm attacks and farm murders remain the same throughout the 2017 calendar year, it would seem that the numbers would again increase. To date there have been 113 attacks and 29 farm murders verified.”

Claasen adds that it is of utmost importance that all people in rural areas increase their security. AfriForum encourages communities to become involved with security networks in their area.

“It is essential to make it as difficult as possible for attackers to gain access to dwellings,” Claasen concludes.

Victims and/or family of victims of farm attacks are encouraged to report incidents at stopdiemoorde@afriforum.co.za or stopthemurders@afriforum.co.za.
The period for these numbers was changed from calendar year to financial year so that it can be compared to the annual crime statistics report of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

View the report here: Report – Farm attacks and farm murders in South Africa