Farm murders: Has racial prejudice now even found a place in denouncing these crimes?

 

South Africa: Farm murders - Has racial prejudice now even found a place in denouncing these crimes?

TLU SA

August 11, 2021

Farm murders: Has racial prejudice now even found a place in denouncing these crime?

This year, according to TLU SA’s Register of Incidents on farm attacks and murders, already saw 153 attacks on farms leading to the death of 25 people. But the minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development, Ms Thoko Didiza, had very little to say about any of these incidents.

This week, however, she condemned the murder of a black family on a Free State farm outside Harrismith. Last week, the head of police in Mpumalanga, Lt Gen Semakaleng Manamela, said they wouldn’t rest before they have the suspects in the murder of a black security guard on a farm near Brondal outside Mbombela behind bars.

“It is tough not to conclude that the minister and her colleagues find the murders of some people more important than others,” says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, the president of TLU SA. “Has racial prejudice now even found a place in denouncing crime?

“Each farm attack or murder is upsetting, unnecessary and unacceptable. Minister must publicly condemn every attack and leave no stone unturned in catching the attackers. Furthermore, the minister and her colleagues must treat all South Africans equally. As the Constitution states.”

The real issue is that the government is not doing enough to protect the safety of South Africans of all races. TLU SA wants to emphasise this.

According to the police’s admission, 11 703 members left the South African Police Service during the past four years. The government cut the police budget during the medium-term expenditure framework and has misspent the rest through malice and greed. It means every one police member is responsible for 200 people.

“It is clear that the safety of South Africans is not a priority for the government,” says Mr Geldenhuys. “The recent cabinet shuffle offered the ideal opportunity to get rid of underachievers and inadequate members of the national executive, but it seems that it was more of an exercise in political positioning.”

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/farm-murders-has-racial-prejudice-now-even-found-a-place-in-denouncing-these-crime/