As the South African government continues to deny the extent and severity of crime, farmers, their families and employees suffer from an increasing assault on their lives and property. 

According to the latest available crime figures, attacks on farms have increased from 636 in 2005 to 794 last year. This is unacceptable. Most attacks were in the form of robberies and the brutality that accompanies such attacks was shocking and constitutes a breach of the farming community's constitutional right to freedom and security of their person and property. 

The violent nature of farm attacks has been of great concern to the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union for some time. They are not the only ones who have pointed out that the government is not adequately meeting its responsibility to monitor and combat crime. 

We in the IFP feel particularly strongly about the security situation in rural areas. We also appreciate the importance of commercial farming to the self-sufficient, free-enterprise economy South Africa needs to remain if we are to make a substantial dent on unemployment and poverty. Security in our rural areas is key to prosperous farms, farmers and their employees. 

As is usually the case with ANC policy, there are good plans and strategies in place, but the crime situation is badly managed on the ground. The problem, as ever, lies in too much centralisation and ineffective allocation of resources. 

The IFP believes that solutions to the challenges faced by our communities are in the hands of those very communities. This case is no different. 

For starters, agriculture pressure groups should have a greater say in matters concerning the security of their members. They should be encouraged to join the police in finding ways how to give momentum to the implementation of sector policing, backed by reservists, in rural areas. 

Dr Lionel Mtshali MPP
Leader of the Official Opposition

Contact: Dr Lionel Mtshali, 083 256 4902