Dear Mr Zuma
Recently, the Young Farmers of TAU SA protested publicly against the continuing violent crimes on farms, and the huge loss of property due to armed robbery and theft.
As has been the case since the early 1990s, vicious criminals threaten the producers of food and fibre, and are responsible for committing hideous crimes against humanity, displaying no respect for age or gender. What is most disturbing is the fact that extreme physical vindictiveness is directed against their victims without any prior warning whatsoever. I have no hesitation in echoing and supporting these young farmers’ views wholeheartedly. There is no doubt in my mind that, even though the National Priority Committee established after a summit with then-President Nelson Mandela, this body is currently unable to address the unacceptable state of affairs. I wish specifically to draw your attention to the following concerns:

Crime Statistics
The SA Police Service (SAPS) made an undertaking to initiate and maintain a stand-alone database reflecting crime that affects the farming community. In reality, however, the only section that still complies with that presidential order is the National Stock Theft Unit. Administrative pressure from other institutions, and an obvious lack of commitment and honesty at station level, have allowed the statistical aspect of violent crimes against farmers and their families and employees  to disintegrate.

Mutual trust
There can be no doubt that in many areas of the country the relationship between the SAPS and the farming community has reached an all-time low.  The primary issues that break down trust are officials’ inability to communicate effectively with the people they serve – many of whom are in stressful circumstances at the time – the lack of professional objectivity that sometimes borders on blatant racism, and the slow responses in emergency situations.

Investigative ability
In South Africa, a small percentage of criminals are sentenced and punished, as compared to the number of crimes reported. This has been thoroughly documented. In fact, the situation is much worse than would be considered to be the norm in other parts of the world. Several examples have been highlighted recently, but the plight of a woman whose father was brutally murdered, and her mother locked in a cupboard, while the criminals set the homestead alight, emphasises the point.  After several months had elapsed without any progress being made in this matter, a private investigator from the Eastern Cape solved the case within 24 hours. Truly, is this not a cause for grave concern?

Self defence
Society at large is becoming increasingly dependent on its own resources to protect life and property. What is extremely worrying is the fact that in some provinces the SAPS seems to direct more attention and energy to the monitoring of farm watches than they do against criminals. This forces people to take care of their own safety. Many fruitless discussions have taken place – many on a national level – to promote a system that will ensure cooperation with the SAPS, but these have not yet brought about effective service delivery. In the meantime, law-abiding farmers, their families, and their employees are confronted by situations that are either life threatening, or that jeopardise their livelihoods.  And this happens a long distance from any SAPS stations, so officers are unable to intervene to prevent murder, robbery, rape and theft.

The Firearm Control Act
The impact of the Firearm Control Act on legal and law-abiding firearm owners has been discussed at length. The most recent utterances stress the ideal of a firearm-free society – in direct contradiction of earlier assurances by politicians and senior police officials. These early references are in stark contrast to the physical and psychological risks which have become part and parcel of daily life in South Africa.
Until the current situation changes, we cannot accept being told how much risk a small, law-abiding sector of society should be willing to take.  Surely, if politicians and senior officials can direct police officials to use firearms to prevent crime and victimisation, the very same principle should apply to law-abiding citizens – people who don’t enjoy the luxury of SAPS protection, and who have no other option than to take responsibility for safeguarding their own life and property?
TAU SA has, on its own and in cooperation with other unions, tried to propose measures to improve rural safety. To this end, a joint and encompassing memorandum dated 20 May 2008 was handed to then-President Thabo Mbeki during a Presidential Working Group in Cape Town.
Since then – with the exception of a single meeting with the SAPS, chaired by the divisional commissioner: visible policing – very little else has been forthcoming.

Coming together
Against this background, we’d welcome an opportunity to urgently discuss the current state of affairs with you and appropriate representatives.
I will gladly make myself and my union available to participate in such a meeting, to exchange ideas and evaluate measures with a view to reducing the level of crime committed against members of the agricultural community.
A repeat of the original summit between Mr Mandela and organised agriculture is long overdue.
Yours truly,
Ben Marais
President, TAU SA.     |fw