'Farm attacks are a national crisis'

The rural safety crisis in South Africa remains dire, with farm attacks and murders continuing at alarming rates. This calls for rural crimes to be declared priority crimes as a matter of urgency, according to

- Jacques Broodryk, chief spokesperson for Community Safety at AfriForum. Annelie Coleman reports.

What is the situation at the moment as far as rural safety and security in South Africa is concerned?

According to our latest statistics, 13 farm attacks were reported in the first half of October 2025 alone.

Overall, farm attacks are increasing, while murders show a slight decrease, most likely due to communities becoming more vigilant and secure thanks to the formation of structures such as farm watches.

However, rural areas face targeted violence, stock theft, and equipment theft, which erodes food security and community stability.

Tell us more about AfriForum’s focus on farm watches and how it came about.

AfriForum’s farm watch initiative emerged from our broader commitment to community self-reliance on safety, launched as an extension of our neighbourhood watch programme in 2012. It was born out of the escalating farm attacks post-2000s, where government inaction left rural communities vulnerable.

We recognised that farmers, often isolated, needed organised, proactive defence mechanisms.

The disbandment of the then commando system left a void that needed to be filled. Our first farm watches were established in high-risk areas like Limpopo, starting with basic patrols and communication networks. Today, farm watches form part of our 177 nationwide structures, focusing on prevention through information sharing, rapid response, and training.

What are the benefits of being part of an AfriForum farm watch for farmers and/or people living on farms?

Joining an AfriForum farm watch provides invaluable security and empowerment for farmers and rural residents.