Question NW2554 to the Minister of Police
10 October 2017 - NW2554
Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Police
In light of the increase in farm murders and the appointment of an Acting National Police Commissioner, (a) what is the current position regarding the prioritisation of investigations into farm murders and (b) what pro-active measures have been put in place by his department to address the increase in the number of farm murders in the country?
Reply:
(a) Trio Crime Task Teams have been established, in Clusters to address Trio Crimes, including farm attacks. The Trio Crime Task Teams are monitored by the Cluster Commander and the Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Crime Detection, in each province.
(b) The South African Police Service (SAPS) has increased police visibility through patrols and continuous engagement with farm owners and residents in rural areas.
The Divisions: Visible Policing and Crime Intelligence, monitor all incidents of violence against persons residing on farms and small holdings, in rural areas, on a daily basis. These incidents, including murder and other serious crimes, which occur on farms and small holdings are analysed and captured on a manual data base. This information is shared as operational information during the Rural Safety Priority Committee meetings, to guide the planning of crime prevention operations, programmes and projects to address root causes or contributing factors to crime, as well as to inform the community of current trends, tendencies and modus operandi of suspects, to enhance awareness.
Weekly incident analysis meetings, involving the Division Visible Policing, the Division: Crime Intelligence and the Crime Registrar, take place to analyse these incidents to determine flash points, particular crime trends, the modus operandi that is employed by criminals and other matters related to rural safety and security.
This operational information forms the basis for presentations to the quarterly National Rural Safety Priority Committee meetings, which is inter alia attended by organised agriculture and farming unions Agriculture South Africa (AGRI SA) and the Transvaal Agriculture Union of South Africa (TAU SA). In the event of an increase in the number of incidents, the relevant Provincial Commissioners are instructed to ensure that preventative measures are implemented with immediate effect.
Stakeholders are encouraged to be a part of these established structures to give constructive advice, regarding the policing of rural communities. These established structures are therefore utilised by stakeholders to enhance cooperation and coordination. The SAPS is committed to addressing all crime-related incidents, in rural areas as a priority.