The FF Plus strongly condemns the murder of Mr Schalk van der Merwe and the vicious attack on his wife, Lettie. The couple was attacked on Sunday the 24th of November on their farm near Wolmaransstad in the North West province.
The FF Plus will continue to put pressure on the government to declare farm murders and attacks priority crimes. It is unacceptable that being a farmer in South Africa is more dangerous than being a police officer.
Agriculture is not just a vocation, it is a calling and every single South African's survival is threatened by farmers being murdered.
A crime against a farmer is a crime against an entire community – and not only locally, but across the entire country as it is one of the biggest factors that threaten food security.
The time has come for the ANC government to stop paying lip service and to implement the rural safety plan. The stigmatisation and victimisation of farmers must also stop as it is not only to the detriment of farmers, their families and workers, but also the whole South Africa.
The FF Plus is calling on all rural communities to take control of their safety by joining organised safety structures in their area and to secure and defend themselves within the prescriptions of the law.
The FF Plus expresses its deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victim and wishes Mrs Van der Merwe a speedy recovery.
Contact details: 079 885 1135
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