AfriForum announces plan to assist Parys farmers

13 January 2016

The civil rights organisation AfriForum announced a plan today that aims to assist the four farmers from Parys in their court case. These farmers have been charged with the murder of two farm attackers. Among other, AfriForum created a platform through which members of the public can donate funds to help these farmers.

This follows an incident on 6 January 2016 after Loedie van der Westhuizen (72) was attacked and badly assaulted on his farm. An alleged confrontation then broke out between farmers of the community and the armed attackers, after which the attackers later allegedly died on their way to the hospital.

Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, said the incident was lamentable and the case should be decided in court. “The truth is not so simple, however,” Roets said. “Farmers across the country are afflicted by violence and murder; even more so in the Parys community, where some of the most brutal farm murders have been committed. This, together with the fact that Government still refuses to prioritise farm murders and police investigations are poorly executed, leads to a complete distrust in Government and the police to stop farm murders.”

The plan to assist the farmers include the following:

1. AfriForum offered to pay the legal costs of the farmers.

2. AfriForum launched an SMS service through which the public can donate R10 to help these farmers with legal costs. Members of the public can SMS “PARYS BOERE” to 38312 to donate R10.

3. Members of the public who wants to donate larger amounts can phone AfriForum at 

086 10 200 30 or deposit their donation directly by using the banking details below. AfriForum’s financial division will monitor and use these funds in cooperation with the accused’s families.

Bank name: FNB

Branch number: 261-550

Account number: 623 4989 8398

Reference: Parys-boere

4.  AfriForum ordered its legal team to investigate allegations of the ANC and EFF singing the banned song “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” outside the court yesterday. Legal options are currently considered.

“The true accused in this case should not be the farmers, but rather Government, who in the first place created a climate of incitement and violence against farmers, and in the second place is unwilling to address farm murders with the necessary seriousness,” Roets explained.

AfriForum has already received various requests from the public of people who want to make donations to help fund the farmers’ legal costs.

Statement issued by Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO, AfriForum, 13 January 2016