🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
AfriForum reports increase in farm attacks in 2025, violence levels remain high
via The Citizen3 min read
AfriForum's 2025 report indicates a continued high level of violence in rural communities, with 184 farm attacks and 29 murders recorded. This marks an increase in attacks from 176 in 2024, though farm murders decreased from 37 in the previous year. Jacques Broodryk of AfriForum community safety noted that while the decrease in murders might seem encouraging, the severity of violence during attacks is a significant concern, with 36% of 2025 attacks classified as serious violent acts carrying a substantial risk of death. Gauteng experienced the highest number of farm attacks with 50, and the most murders with seven. Broodryk emphasized that the high level of violence means many survivors could easily have been murdered, and that farm attacks are not ordinary crimes. AfriForum urged the government to take a firm stance against farm attacks and inflammatory rhetoric. Leon Lourens, Southern African Agri Initiative Saai development coordinator, corroborated these findings, highlighting the extreme violence inflicted on victims, often exceeding what is expected in a crime. He cited a case in Kameeldrift East where a 76-year-old was severely attacked for minimal gain, underscoring the vulnerability of rural residents, especially the elderly. Lourens also stressed that disruptions to farming operations affect the entire agricultural value chain. TLU SA chair Bennie van Zyl echoed these concerns, expressing discomfort with the political will to combat crime and the lack of public trus
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