Question NW342 to the Minister of Police
24 March 2017 - NW342
Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Police
(1) Whether, with regard to the spate of farm attacks in January and February 2017, he will appoint a specialised unit to investigate the specified attacks and the senseless murder of farm workers and farmers, if not, why not; (2) whether his department has conducted any study to determine the reasons behind the criminal behaviour; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
(1) The South African Police Service (SAPS) does not have specialised units to specifically investigate crimes committed on farms and small holdings (farm attacks). Crime committed on farms and smallholdings has, however, been identified as a strategic priority and is being dealt with as such. The prevention and combatting of these crimes has been included in the Annual Operational Plan for the 2017/2018 financial year of the Division: Visible Policing and is also being addressed in the Rural Safety Strategy. The investigation of these crimes is also prioritised at provincial level and, depending on the complexity and nature of specific crimes, the investigations are conducted by Provincial Investigation Units, which resort under the direct command and control of the Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Crime Detection.
(2) A scientific study to determine the reasons behind the criminal behaviour during the commission of these crimes has not yet been conducted, but the modus operandi and the circumstances under which these crimes are committed, are constantly being analysed by Detective Service, Crime Intelligence, the Crime Registrar and Visible Policing, in order to implement specific operational and tactical plans for the prevention, combating and investigation of these crimes.