Government should take farm murders seriously

The murder of a nine year old little girl, Kayla Meyer and three other people on a smallholding outside Randfontein once again puts the spotlight on the high prevalence of murder and the cruelty thereof in South Africa and the government will have to act decisively, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, the FF Plus’ chief spokesperson on Police says.

Dr. Groenewald said today in a member statement in parliament that official statistics shows that 32 people in 100 000 of the population is murdered. That is nearly five times higher than the world average. As for farm murders, the figure is 133 in 100 000.

He said research and figures of the SA Medical Research Council and other institutions showed tat the figure could even be higher.

“Another characteristic of the murders in South Africa is the exceptional violence which accompanies it. It is unparalleled and unacceptable.

“If one looks at the recent murder of a family on a smallholding outside Randfontein, which per definition are farm murders, the question necessarily arises as to how it could be possible that a nine year-old girl could be killed with a spade without anything really being stolen.

“Government previously launched an investigation into the cruelty which accompanies these murders, but nothing came of it.

“The acting commissioner of police says that farm murders are a priority. The FF Plus therefore calls on the police and government to act decisively and investigate farm murders and all murders in South Africa in all earnestness, and in particular the cruelty which accompanies these murders.

“This murder record does not do South Africa any favours,” Dr. Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Dr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus chief spokesperson: Police, 15 March 2016