Senwes Scenario December 2018 / January 2019 | Page 10

NEWS
Farm attacks not a
lightweight matter
Recent media articles placed the spotlight on the cruelty of farm
attacks once again and it remains a huge task to help protect
farmers and farm workers against such attacks. Radio, camera
and even drone technology are being used in a proactive manner.
With the implementation of this technology, farming communities
are fighting back to curb crime.
 By AgriSecuritas
C
ommunities are not only
involved with the processes and
structures of the Rural Safety
Strategy, but they are also
actively resisting the crime onslaught by
implementing new initiatives. The creative
and solution-driven attitude of farmers is
the driving force behind the successful
implementation of this technology to create
a safer living and working environment.
Any farm attack is traumatic, however,
the positive attempts being made by peo-
ple and organisations such as Agri SA and
the Agri Securitas Trust Fund to improve
the situation, are positive. The resistance
against farm attacks from various quarters
is at least a factor which binds a large part
of the nation.
More than 12 500 farm attacks over a
period of 19 years and more than 1 700
murders over this period, say a lot about
the continued criminal onslaught against
farmers and farm workers, which obviously
does not promote South Africa's endea­vours
for food security. It means that farm attacks
and the effect thereof on agriculture are not
a lightweight matter and, for this reason, it
will remain a priority for Agri SA. A premium
is also placed on agricultural development
and job creation in the agri-sector by the
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SENWES SCENARIO | TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION 2018
National Development Plan, which can only
be done in a safe environment. Rural crime
is an extensive problem with a lot of dimen-
sions, which means that solutions have to
be sought in various areas, which include
policy, co-ope­ration, readiness and effective
policing.
Agri SA and the Agri Securitas Trust
Fund are doing everything possible to
improve the safety situation - whether
by means of the Rural Safety Strategy,
attempts to promote the reservist dispen-
sation, regular interaction with the com-
manding structure of the police or even
interaction with the South African National
Defence Force.
The Agri Securitas Trust Fund endea­
vours to create a safer rural environment by
supporting safety projects at farmer union
level. The projects being supported are
aimed at preventative measures and after-
care. It includes, inter alia, assistance for
communication networks to promote emer-
gency communication, camera systems
to monitor access, logistical requirements
for application at local level, erection of
boom-gates and the provision of trauma
counselling services. The Trust Fund is
also involved with an initiative of Agri SA to
attend to an underlying perception prob-
lem which contributes to the unacceptable
high occurrence of farm related crime and
attacks over the longer term, namely the