Provincial Police Deputy Commissioner, Jan Scheepers, has warned farmers who continue to employ illegal immigrants, that they could be liable to a R15 000 fine if found guilty, the Northern Review reports.

Scheepers addressed farmers on Saturday during a rural safety awareness campaign at Bergnek outside Polokwane about crime within their society.

Read: Crime statistics paint bleak picture for Limpopo

He said crime is killing farmers while the country depends on them for food security. The reality, he added, was that there are foreigners who illegally enter the country and commit crimes within the communities.

“We believe a good economy reduces the crime rate in our country and that we should fight criminals together,” said Scheepers.

He added one farmer killed in South Africa is one farmer too many and it will lead to everyone starving as farmers provide food security.

Read: #Crimestats: 10 latest crime statistics in South Africa

“Our country depends on farmers for people to eat tomorrow and to mature the economy which is why we should protect them from criminal elements,” he said.

“As part of the national development plan we need to encourage communities to be part of this solution.”

Scheepers told CV stock theft continues to rise as several cases have been opened.

For the full article on Northern Review’s website, click on: ‘Don’t employ foreigners’ – SAPS