Farm murders have increased for the fifth consecutive year. 61 farm murders were verified in 2014, and thus far in 2015, 62 farm murders have been recorded, according to Civil Rights group, Afriforum.

In 2014, 279 farm attacks were reported. In 2015 however, 270 farm attacks have been reported and in 56 of these attacks 62 farmers and farm workers were murdered.

“It’s disturbing that more murders were committed in less farm attacks. It shows that attackers are not cautious to kill,” says Lorraine Claasen, Researcher at the AfriForum Research Institute.

“62 fatalities are shocking, and in most attacks only the content of safes, cash and/or firearms were stolen.”

Most farm murders were reported in Gauteng (13), followed by Limpopo (11) and KwaZulu-Natal (8). In the Free State and Eastern Cape, seven farm murders were reported respectively.

AfriForum wants to convey their sincere condolences to the families who lost loved-ones in farm attacks. “We cannot allow this shocking statistic to repeat itself in 2016. AfriForum will continue putting pressure on government and international roleplayers to get farm murders declared a priority crime. We shall also continue establishing community safety networks across the country to improve the safety of communities in rural as well as urban areas,” says Claasen.