Land grabbers make death threats - AfriForum  

AfriForum has announced that the organisation will assist farmers to organise against land grabs. This came after the occupation of a farm in the Howick district this weekend. Mr Peter Train, owner of the farm, approached AfriForum after members of the Msomi family had cut the fences on his farm numerous times and allowed their cattle to graze on his land.

"The farm belongs to the black man," one of the Msomi sons had told the farmer. The farmer's wife had received death threats. 

"AfriForum will assist farmers to organise in order to be able to act against these types of irregularities. Farmers must be able to exist in a safe environment," said Ian Cameron, Head of Community Safety at AfriForum.

The Msomis were arrested last Friday for malicious damage to property after illegally entering the farm, but they were released by the Howick police with a warning to appear in court on Monday, 2 December 2013. Both the Msomi men and four other unknown males were on the farm again on Sunday, this time armed with knopkieries, sticks and an axe.(See photographs attached)

"AfriForum has requested the prosecutor to regard the matter as urgent. The alleged perpetrators were arrested again and the case was postponed to 23 January 2014 for further investigation. The Msomi men were warned again to stay away from the farmer until the case was heard," said Chris Fourie, Organiser for AfriForum in KwaZulu-Natal.

"Government is failing in its duty to ensure safety on farms. To this day, no discernable effort was made to safeguard farmers," Cameron said.

Statement issued by Chris Fourie, Organiser: KwaZulu-Natal, AfriForum, December 3 2013

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