NATIONAL NEWS - The never-ending debate about farm murders, and the claims that South Africa is in the midst of a “white genocide”, got another twist in its tail with the release of a report from an official farmers’ organisation which shows that farm murders are at a 20-year low.

But minority rights group AfriForum has questioned the report, saying the figures are incomplete and unreliable.

National agricultural organisation, AgriSA, has released a report stating there were 561 farm attacks and 47 farm murders during the 2017-18 year.

This represents a slight increase in attacks over the previous year, but still showed a massive dip from the 1 069 attacks and 140 murders in 2001-02, which was the worst year on record for farm murders.

The increase in attacks also went along with a decrease in murders.

AgriSA’s statistics are based on a combination of official police statistics, media reports, and their own statistics.

However, Kobus Visser, AgriSA’s director for rural safety and general affairs, said farm attacks were still one of the agricultural sector’s biggest challenges, and that farmers were still not safe.

The only difference between the past and now was that farmers are better prepared, with better safety strategies and measures, he said.

“The agricultural community alone cannot be held responsible for combating crime. It remains the government’s responsibility to keep all citizens safe. However, the threat to rural safety is of such a nature that the farming community must continue to ensure their own security.”

Visser said the agricultural community had been working with an ally called the Agri Securitas Trust Fund, to devise plans to ensure their safety. The fund had contributed financially towards rural safety systems at farmer association level.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.