‘Farm attacks must stop!’ says Newcastle Growth Coalition

As officials continue attempts to trace the attackers responsible for the deaths of Glen and Vida Rafferty, the community has continued to voice its collective condemnation of the seemingly senseless attack, the Newcastle Advertiser reports.

Official sources have indicated that forensic evidence has been collected and analysed, but conceded there were few leads at this early stage of the investigation.

Johan Pieters, on behalf of the Newcastle Growth Coalition, extended condolences to the couple’s families and friends on social channels, saying he was shocked and saddened to hear the tragic news.

“When a farm attack happens, we lose not just a farmer who wants to ensure that we as a community have food on our table, we lose a family member; a loved one.”

Councillor, Alex Liu re-emphasised a statement made to the Newcastle Advertiser earlier this month, following the killing of factory owner, Jackie Lu, in which he said the deaths of farmers and employers would speed up economic deterioration in South Africa.

Cllr Liu is concerned at the current level of anger and hatred in the province and the town.

National media houses have also reported on the killing of Glen and Vida Rafferty, while resident commentary on social media includes calls for the death penalty to be re-instated and a desire for residents to ‘take the law into their own hands’.

The following comments have been copied from the Newcastle Advertiser’s original news post from Facebook:

• Nonhlanhla Shozi: “This is painful. May God comfort and give strength to their families. Perpetrators MUST be prosecuted.”
• Ina Goncalves: “Dis skokkende nuus vir Newcastle se gemeenskap. Innige simpatie vir die familie.”
• Yeshivan Semongal: “If our government is stealing during our current crisis….. What’s to say the crime will end…they set the example. I wish the family finds solace during this difficult time.”

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