A farmworker was killed in an alleged farm attack in Westonaria during the weekend.
Sergeant Audrey Sefara, the Westonaria Police spokesperson, confirmed the death, which occurred during the course of Saturday night, 27 July on a farm in Glenharvie, but denied that it was a farm attack.
The police are, however, investigating a case of house robbery and murder, and will provide more details later today.
Ina Cilliers, Member of Parliament and DA constituency head for Merafong, commented on a second incident that occurred during the weekend, in which another farmworker was killed in Raatskraal, Fochville on the far West Rand.
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“We are shocked by the brutal assault on a farmworker who passed away as a result of the injuries he sustained during a farm attack. It is alleged that he was attacked at his residence where he was tied up, beaten and forced to drink poison. His assailants made off with his vehicle and personal belongings. He was rushed to hospital, but passed away shortly after arrival.”
Regarding the Police having classified the crime as a house robbery, Cilliers added, “In the absence of separate and accurate rural crime statistics, it is not possible to develop effective interventions.
It is time for the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Department of Community Safety and to stop seeing rural crime as a separate issue from agricultural production.
“In addition to the implementation of specialised and rural safety units, we call on David Makhura, Gauteng Premier, to institute a special inter-ministerial task team to deal with the situation in Gauteng. Gauteng is a rural crime hot spot and we urgently need a holistic and collaborative intervention that cuts across departments.”
She said, in addition, they will be tabling their Community Safety Bill in the Gauteng Legislature.
“This dire situation, in which our people repeatedly fall victim to violent and senseless crimes, cannot be allowed to continue. We encourage all of Gauteng’s residents to sign our petition to stop the war on our rural communities.”
Click here to view the petition.
