ANC STATEMENT ON THE POTGIETER MURDERS

The African National Congress (ANC) strongly condemns all forms of crime in the country, including the recent Free State farm murders of Attie Potgieter, his wife Wilna and their three-year-old daughter Willemien.

We would like to reaffirm our position of fighting crime wherever it takes place and regardless of who it affects. The fight against crime remains a key priority of our Government to ensure safer and more secure communities. In the recent past, the ANC Government has demonstrated swiftness in fighting crime, resulting in the reduction in farm murders. 

It is unfortunate that some individuals have used the Potgieter family murder to attach racial undertones to it when crime knows no race or colour. Racially blurring issues of crime and justice can only serve to polarise our nation, instead of uniting it. 

The ANC is happy with the support the family is receiving from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the community, which has led to the swift arrest of the suspects. We send our condolences to relatives of the Potgieter family. We believe that justice must take its course unreservedly and that those behind the murders must face the full might of the law.

We call on all South Africans to act in concert to ensure that criminals have no place to hide wherever they have sought refuge.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, December 7 2010

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