AfriForum supports families in the Western Cape after several farm attacks

AfriForum’s Trauma Support Unit visited various families and farmworkers in De Doorns and Bonnievale over the weekend to provide emotional support after the recent horrific farm attacks and farm murder.

This follows the attack on Wennard (70) and Lorna Barnard (62) on Friday evening 17 May 2019 in their home just outside De Doorns. The couple was attacked, seriously assaulted and left severely traumatised.

The unit also attended the memorial service of Tool Wessels, a farmer from the Bonnievale area, in the Dutch Reformed Church in Bonnievale. Wessels was murdered on his farm Kapteinsdrift a week before. The service was attended by his widow, Liezel, and their two daughters, as well as family, friends and farm workers. The church was filled to capacity.

“The family, farm workers, friends and the Bonnievale community are severely shocked and hurt that one of Bonnievale’s well-loved farmers had to die in such a cruel way. Neither him nor anyone else deserves to die in this way. I believe everyone who attended the memorial service had witnessed Tool’s kindness in some way or another,” says Johan Kloppers, AfriForum’s Trauma Support Officer who attended the memorial service.

The unit also offered emotional support to the community and will be available to support the family and community further.