Government must urgently strengthen rural safety measures following a series of violent attacks on farming communities in North West, advocacy organisation Civil Society South Africa (CSSA) has demanded, reports Pretoria Rekord.

In a statement issued yesterday (November 5), the organisation called for increased funding and the accelerated implementation of the revised Rural Safety Strategy, improved police response capacity and stronger action against illegal firearms.

It also called on government to abandon proposed changes that would remove self-defence as a recognised ground for obtaining a firearm licence.

Three attacks in four weeks

CSSA spokesperson Reece Clark highlighted three attacks in North West within four weeks: the attack on Les and Natasha Brett in Broederstroom, the attack on cattle farmer Donovan Marx near Ventersdorp and the killing of Hannetjie van Zyl outside Ottosdal.

“Three families in one province in four weeks. On a farm, help is kilometres of dirt road away, and Parliament’s own committees have found that rural police response is significantly delayed,” Clark said.

“Government cannot leave people that exposed and then take away their right to lawfully prepare to protect their own lives.”

The Bretts were attacked at their home in Broederstroom on Sunday night (November 1).

Police confirmed that seven licensed firearms and ammunition were stolen, along with electronic equipment and other valuables. A close family friend and private security responders described hours of torture involving beatings and boiling water.

Police are investigating a house robbery and confirmed on November 5 that no arrests had been made.

CSSA also referred to the October 28 attack on Marx at Syferfontein, near Ventersdorp, where he was reportedly shot, stabbed and mutilated.

According to the organisation, four accused appeared in court on November 3 and remained in custody pending a bail hearing on November 13.

The case relating to Van Zyl’s killing at her farm gate outside Ottosdal on October 5 is due to resume on November 24.

Parliament raises concerns over rural policing

CSSA’s demands come against the backdrop of concerns raised by Parliament’s Portfolio Committees on Police and Agriculture in report from last year May on farm murders and rural safety.

The joint committee report followed a petition by PPS Stop Farm Killings and Agri-Alert SA calling for an investigation into attacks on farming communities and their impact on food security and the agricultural economy.

During its deliberations, the committee heard that only 40% of SAPS vehicles in rural areas were suitable for the terrain they were expected to cover.

It also recorded significantly delayed police response times in rural areas compared with urban centres, often because of poor road infrastructure and unsuitable vehicles.

The committees recommended a comprehensive national audit of rural policing capacity, including vehicle suitability, staffing and the operational readiness of specialised units.

They also called for dedicated rural safety units at police station and district levels, stronger crime intelligence and better cooperation with community-based safety structures.

Five demands for government

CSSA outlined five demands, beginning with retaining self-defence as a recognised ground for obtaining a firearm licence under section 13 of the Firearms Control Act.

It wants any proposal to remove this provision withdrawn before the amendment Bill is submitted to Cabinet.

Under the existing legislation, self-defence remains a recognised purpose for obtaining a firearm licence. The organisation’s objection concerns proposed amendments to the Act, not an existing change in the law.

The draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill is available from the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service.

CSSA also wants government to release the research, crime statistics, legal advice and impact assessments underpinning the proposed legislative changes.

The organisation said its Transparency Project had submitted six applications under the Promotion of Access to Information Act since July 2026.

The applications were directed to several bodies, including the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, SAPS, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and the Presidency.

According to CSSA, most applications had been acknowledged, but none had received a full response.

The organisation said it intended to publish responses, refusals and instances of non-response, while pursuing internal appeals, complaints to the Information Regulator and court action where necessary.

Revised rural safety strategy still awaited

CSSA’s third demand is for government to fund and accelerate the revised Rural Safety Strategy.

According to the organisation, SAPS told Parliament that implementation of the revised strategy was scheduled to begin on April 1, 2027.

CSSA wants the strategy published immediately, together with its budget and implementation timelines, rather than waiting until the proposed implementation date.

The organisation also called for improved rural police response capacity, including station-by-station reporting on vehicle availability and response times.

Parliament’s 2025 report on rural safety specifically recommended a national audit of rural policing resources and better coordination between SAPS and community safety structures.

Thousands of police firearms lost or stolen

Finally, CSSA wants stronger efforts to trace and recover firearms stolen during farm attacks, disrupt illegal firearm supply networks and address losses from state stock.

According to figures disclosed by the police ministry in a written parliamentary response, 3 433 SAPS firearms were lost or stolen between 2019 and 2024.

Of these, 3 213 were stolen and 220 were lost. Only 559 had been recovered.

“The law-abiding farmer is not the problem in this country. The criminal is,” Clark said.

South Africans can read the campaign and add their names to CSSA’s submission through its Legal Firearms Save Lives campaign.

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