Question NW2606 to the Minister of Police
10 October 2017 - NW2606
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Police
(1) In light of the wave of farm murders in August 2017 during which six people were killed in 23 farm attacks, (a) what steps he is taking to improve and intensify safety in rural areas and (b) whether priority are given to farm murders as undertaken by the previous acting National Commissioner of Police, Lt-Genl Khomotso Phahlane; if not, why not; (2) whether, in light of the fact that food security is a priority of Government and is being threatened by farm attacks and murders, is he prepared to establish spesialist units for farm attacks and murders; if not, why not; (3) whether he will make a statement about the matter?
Reply:
(1) The number of incidents on farms and small holdings for August 2017, cannot be confrimed, as it is currently undergoing a verification process according to the definition for incidents of farms and small holdings.
(1)(a) To increase capacity at rural police stations in order to ensure equitable policing services to the rural communities. The following policing actions are taken to address safety in rural areas:
- hot spots were identified where incidents occur;
- analysis of incidents in order to determine the trends and modus operandi;
- operations to prevent crime conducted in hot spots;
- increase patrols in hot spots
- visit farm owners;
- simulation exercises to test the reaction capacity to incident specifically on farms;
- Priority Committee meetings for Rural Safety on all levels are conducted;
- awareness campaigns;
- capacity building sessions with Rural Safety Coordinators on all levels; and
- compliance inspections at rural police stations.
(1)(b) Priority continues to be provided to murders that occur on farms. Murders on farms are addressed within the Rural Safety Strategy, which is still in place and is implemented at rural and rural/urban police stations. The status of the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy is an indicator in Programme 2: Visible Policing, in the Annual Performance Plan (APP) of the South African Police Service, for the current financial year (2017/2018).
2. Rural Safety, which includes food security, is a priority to the South African Police Service. There is no plan in place to establish specialised units, which will only address incidents and murders on farms. The plan is to increase the capacity of rural police stations, to ensure that they can provide equitable police services to all citizens, within rural communities and this includes people staying and working on farms.
3. A statement concerning the capacity building at rural police stations, will be made when the planning is completed and a plan with an allocated budget is in place.