DA condemns ruthless farm murder in Cullinan

23 July 2024

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is outraged by the ruthless farm murder that took place in Cullinan this past weekend. An elderly farmer was brutally murdered, while his wife sustained horrifying injuries.

As we grapple with this tragic loss, it is imperative to acknowledge the increasing threat of farm murders in our country. These attacks are not just crimes against individuals, but assaults on the very fabric of our rural communities, the heart of our agricultural economy, and the safety and security of our citizens.

For a long time, the DA has been calling on the Gauteng Department of Community Safety and the South African Police Service to work with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to combat farm murders.

This can be done by increasing SAPS’s presence in rural areas, establishing specialised rural safety units and establishing relationships with community policing and partnerships.

Furthermore, the DA urges farmers to secure their farms by securing all entry points to their farms, install alarm systems and maintaining regular communication with neighbours. In addition, all farmers should have an emergency kit and first aid supplies on hand.

The DA will be writing to Premier Panyaza Lesufi regarding the safety of our farmers. We will also be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to determine exactly what measures will be put in place to ensure the safety of our farmers.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the farmer and the victim of this heinous crime.

Issued by Bronwyn Engelbrecht, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, 23 July 2024