We need to stand united against farm attacks

Madam – “We South Africans are being terrorized in our own country. Weapons have been surrendered, and our civil forces have been demolished. How can we safeguard ourselves? No longer can we call our country the pride of our hearts,” says a heartbroken South African, after yet another farm attack.

Statistics have shown in 2014 alone, there were 277 farm attacks, and 67 farm murders. The statistics for 2015 are in excess of 200 already thus far.

What has become of our country? What has been done to bring a stop to this? We, the citizens, have been left vulnerable and helpless, We have to sit and watch our lives get destroyed and families are left broken and saddened due to circumstances.

Farm attacks and farm murders have become out of hand, and seemingly become an almost daily norm, sometimes not even being newsworthy anymore.

The most targeted areas for farm attacks are:

Gauteng,

Mpumalanga,

North West,

Free-state, and

KwaZulu-Natal.

13 June 2015: Vrede, only an hour’s drive from Newcastle, a 70-year-old man and his 66-year-old wife were attacked on their farm and both shot in the head. Although both critically wounded, they miraculously survived.

30 August 2015: Harrismith, A foreman was murdered on a farm.

1 September 2015: Camperdown, a farmer shot and killed in front of his wife and two sons.

1 September 2015: Pretoria, Keanu Badenhorst, 17 years old, shot dead while trying to protect his mother and sister against five intruders.

2 September 2015: Melmoth, a couple were attacked on their farm in broad daylight.

It is about time we as South Africans stand together and make a difference.

For far too long now, this critical situation has been swept under the rug, and is seemingly being ignored by Government.

If something drastic is not done very soon, we as South Africans will be wiped out and destroyed one by one, and that is the honest truth.

Lisa Perrins