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The failure by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, to include detailed crime stats on farm murders and attacks in Gauteng during the first quarter crime stats for the 2022/23 financial year indicates his incompetency and disregard for our farming community.

Even though the crime stats highlight stock theft and business robberies, crimes against farmers should have been included. Failure to include these stats downplays the severity of crimes against farmers.

Crime stats should reflect the rural safety crime stats every quarter. An attack on a farmer is an attack on our economy.

On several occasions, the DA has submitted written questions about the farm murders and attacks to the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

Her response reflected that there were 24 farm murders in Gauteng for the fourth quarter of the 2021/22 financial year which were not shown in the crime stats.

It is concerning that the Minister has yet again failed to include these stats even though farmers in areas like Tshwane, Sedibeng and the West Rand are suffering due to increased cases of farm attacks.

Gauteng farmers are under attack; therefore, the adoption of the DA’s Community Safety Bill is the only solution to ensure the safety of all our farmers across the province.

The Bill aims to bring an integrated approach to curbing crime. It will improve police intelligence and find practical solutions that will protect farmers and agricultural holdings.

It is high time that the Gauteng Department of Community Safety replicates the DA’s Midvaal Rural Safety Strategy and the Western Cape Rural Safety Plan to assist farmers with technological developments, farming competency and safety.

The DA proposes that MEC Mazibuko implements an inter-departmental approach between her department, Economic Development and Agriculture, to institutionalise rural safety as a departmental priority. It should also establish a rural safety desk, where the department can utilise scientific data to map crime trends and identify hotspot areas.

We cannot fight crime alone. We need to work hand-in-hand with our farming communities and other accredited experts in the field to not only prioritise rural safety within Gauteng but actively ensure that our farmers are protected.

Issued by Crezane Bosch MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Community Safety