AfriForum has presented Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu with evidence of eight confirmed farm murders that occurred between October and December 2024, contradicting the South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics, which reported only one murder during that period.

This move follows Mchunu's challenge on Friday for the organisation to provide the facts, and AfriForum’s claims suggesting that the minister may either be misinformed or deliberately downplaying the scale of the farm murder crisis in South Africa.

IOL previously reported that Mchunu released the third-quarter crime statistics for 2024/2025 on February 21 and revealed a significant reduction in crime.

Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum's chief spokesperson for Community Safety, emphasised that the civil rights organisation has long been tracking farm attacks and murders according to the SAPS’ own definition, outlined in the Rural Safety Strategy (RSS).

These attacks are closely monitored and classified to ensure accurate reporting of rural violence.

One of the incidents highlighted by AfriForum involved the kidnapping and murder of a mother and daughter in October 2024, a tragedy that, according to Broodryk, is being overlooked in the official figures presented by Mchunu.

"Minister Mchunu’s claim that only one farm murder took place from October to December 2024 communicates to families of these victims that farm murders are not a priority," said Broodryk.

"We cannot allow politicking to take precedence over the reality of farm murders and the generally intolerable levels of crime in South Africa."

AfriForum has made numerous attempts to engage with the government on the farm murder issue, including a request for a meeting with Mchunu in January, but these efforts have been ignored.

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Despite what it called a lack of political will from leadership, AfriForum believes its neighbourhood watch structures maintain strong relationships with the SAPS, supporting efforts to combat rural crime, assist in criminal tracking, and secure convictions.

"Community-driven safety initiatives have proven effective in assisting the SAPS with rural crime prevention, tracking down criminals and securing convictions," said Broodryk.

"However, the political leadership’s lack of commitment undermines these efforts."

AfriForum also expressed concern over the government’s response to farm murders, noting the president’s refusal to acknowledge these crimes in front of international media and his failure to condemn the controversial "Kill the Boer, kill the farmer" chants by political leaders.

"The fact that we have a president who denied, in front of the international media, that farm murders are taking place in this country and who refuses to condemn political leaders chanting ‘Kill the Boer, kill the farmer’ is a clear indicator that the South African government responds to crime selectively," Broodryk said.

Despite these challenges, AfriForum has pledged to continue documenting farm murders and working with all stakeholders committed to addressing the violence.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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AfriForum reveals eight farm murders, challenging official SAPS statistics