Written by: Rev Kenneth Meshoe
Article Source: ACDP Media Statement
House Chairperson,
On behalf of the African Christian Democratic Party, I want to convey our sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones as a result of brutal attacks on small holdings and farms.
According to the 2018 Global Peace Index, South Africa is one of the most violent countries in the world today. But the sadistic torture meted out to vulnerable victims for some years now is brutal, barbaric and sickening. Some of the criminals involved in farm murders rape women and children and even pour boiling water or oil on their helpless victims. These crimes, we believe, are demonic, and are driven by hatred, which the ACDP strongly condemns.
The list of victims includes a frail woman of 64 years who was tortured with an electric drill on the soles of her feet after having been stabbed and had her ribs broken; two-year-old Wilmien Potgieter, who was hacked with a panga and shot to death with her parents; pregnant Zaahida Shakur, who recently had her throat slit in her bathroom on a farm in Weenen, KZN; and Glen and Vida Rafferty, a couple from KZN who were shot dead this past week on their farm in Normadien, KZN.
Chairperson, when vulnerable people are killed and tortured and nothing is stolen, robbery is not the motive. Hatred is, and the ACDP believes it should be declared hate-crimes.
As a result of the senseless, diabolical killings, food production is suffering.
Political parties that encourage the invasion of land, including farm land, should be held equally responsible for brutal murders that happen as a result of illegal invasions. The ACDP calls on government to stop paying lip service to this crisis and stop making empty threats to those promoting lawlessness in the country. They must punish the criminals. We also call on government to bring back rural commandos to assist the police to stop hate crimes against our food producers.
According to black farmers, farm attacks and invasions are not only directed at white-farmers but black farmers are also targetted. Land invaders have reportedly dealt a fledgling black fruit farmer a devastating blow, burning down 130 hectares of mango orchards in his 888 hectare farm in Tzaneen, Limpopo. According to Mr Kgabo, who owns the farm, they have had incidents where farm workers were attacked and killed in their sleeping quarters. These barbaric crimes are shocking to say the least, and the ACDP condemns them.
This past Saturday, we witnessed an estimated 30,000 bikers in Pretoria, who were protesting against farm murders and saying “enough is enough!” Among them was Eugene Makgele, who said when farmers are murdered, then we are killing the country and food security.
The ACDP strongly condemns the hatred that is prevailing in our country today—hatred against our farmers and all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.
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Date published: 12/09/2020
Feature image: pixabay.com
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We need to stand against these crimes!