Almost a quarter of cases opened by farm workers in KZN involve rape
18 October 2020
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) can today reveal that almost a quarter – 23% - of the 380 cases in the province classified as attacks against farm workers, since 2000, involve rape.
The information forms part of a recent written parliamentary reply (view here) to questions submitted provincial Community Safety MEC, Bheki Ntuli. It also comes as the DA continues with its campaign to draw attention to the issue of rural and farm safety in a bid to pressure government into action.
The DA is deeply concerned by this staggeringly high figure which paints a bleak picture for female farm workers. Equally alarming is that of all cases reported since 2000, only 21 out of 88 ended in conviction. This worrying statistic is an indictment on justice and the fight against Gender-Based Violence.
The information further supports the DA’s claim that continuous under- resourcing of both the police and justice system along with the politicising of government appointments by the ANC, is failing rural and farming communities.