“Farm Murders” 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

28/02/2023: AfriForum launched its latest report on farm attacks and murders. Out of all the farm murders reported last year, suspects were arrested in only 33% of the incidents. However, it is unclear how many were charged and ultimately convicted. This is a drastic decrease from the 47% that AfriForum found in 2020 to be arrested after a farm murder. The number of arrests last year stems from a total of 333 confirmed farm attacks and 50 farm murders that took place in 2022. According to the report, the number of farm attacks decreased in the past year compared to the 415 attacks and 55 murders in 2021. Similar to previous years, almost 40% of all murder victims were the farmer and owner of the farm between the ages of 50 and 79. Just like in 2021, almost two-thirds of all victims were men. *https://archive.is/sieNd

18/08/2023: Expansion of Security Networks.
AfriForum’s figures show that 76 farm attacks took place in the second quarter of 2023 and 24 murders. The organisation’s Community Safety division verified these figures from April to June 2023. When the statistics of the second quarter are compared with the first quarter of 2023, there is a significant increase in the number of murders that have taken place. Although the number of attacks for the first and second quarter are more-or-less the same, murders increased by 167% - from nine in the first quarter to 24 in the second quarter. Of all the second quarters over the last five years (since 2019), the second quarter of 2023 recorded the highest number of murders. The database of AfriForum’s Community Safety division also shows that in just 15 of the 76 farm attacks recorded for the second quarter, suspects were arrested. There was also an average of 5,85 incidents per week. We already have 168 neighbourhood and farm watch structures nationwide with around 11,000 trained volunteers who help to secure their communities. *https://archive.is/uqgRk *https://archive.is/hrmnV

19/08/2023: The South African Police Service's official statistics recorded 14 farm murders in the second quarter of 2023. *https://archive.is/vxdLq *https://archive.is/TFgmR *https://archive.is/O6AQr

There are 36 Victims remembered in this project year

• This figure includes 3 couples on farms between 02/04/2023 - March 2024
• 25 Victims were aged between 60 - 79

2023 April

• Francis John Davidson (74) 26/04/2023 Farm Whoa-Ha, Maclear, EC (died in hospital 13/06/2023 due to severity of his injuries) media link, media link, media link
• [Male victim] (41) 30/04/2023 Farm Geluk, Kroonstad, FS (farm worker shot dead, police arrested 4 suspects) media link, media link, SAPS report

May

• Lance Arthur da Silva (62) 04/05/2023 Rouxville, FS (shot in head) media link media link media link, SAPS report
• Hlompho Patrick Phale (33) 27/05/2023 Zamdela, Sasolburg, FS (fatally shot in the abdomen, 98 sheep stolen) media link, SAPS report
• André van Biljon (69) 27/05/2023 Oranjeville, FS (shot in chest and hand, died in hospital 30/05. Son Lukas (47), tied up and stabbed in chest, survived) media link, media link, media link, SAPS report

June

• Sibulele Potela (26) 01/06/2023 Cookhouse, EC (2 armed perps, farm manager held at gunpoint, then shot dead) media link media link
• Pierre de Kock (50's) 02-04/06/2023 Aurora, Piketberg, WC (stab wound to the neck, multiple murder) media link media link
• Belinda de Kock (50's) 02-04/06/2023 Aurora, Piketberg, WC (multiple murder) media link media link
• Hennie Claassen (78) 03/06/2023 Farm Klipfonteinhoek, Ohrigstad, LP (tortured and set alight, multiple murder) media link media link
• Anneke Claassen (76) 03/06/2023 Farm Klipfonteinhoek, Ohrigstad, LP (tortured and set alight, multiple murder) media link media link
• Josef Payne (71) 05/06/2023 Perdekop, Standerton, MP (found tied up with severe wound to stomach) media link
• Nic van Zyl (60-70) 23/06/2023 Heatonville near Empangeni, KZN (shot and killed at his home on a farm) media link, media link
• Hennie Maritz (70's) 23/06/2023 Hattingspruit, Glencoe, KZN (attacked, murdered, hijacked on a farm road) media link,
• Charles Eksteen (50's) 26/06/2023 farm in Balmoral, MPL (shot dead, attacker dies after shooting himself) media link

July

• Ruan Hechter (37) 02/07/2023 farm near the old Saasveld road, George, WC (shot in his face during the robbery) media link, media link
• Fred Jansen van Rensburg (67) 08/07/2023 North West Province (blow to the side of the head, inquest being conducted) media link
• Mike Pattinson (67) 24/07/2023 Farm Summerslie, Harrismith, FS (abducted, open wounds to head and neck) media link media link
• Carel Nel (Dr) (60) +- 28/07/2023 Tweelingspruit farm, Biesiesvlei, NW (Cattle farmer, body found on farm 03/08/2023, believed to have been murdered 28/07) media link
• Theo Frederik Bekker (71) 30/07/2023 Grootvlei, Balfour, MP (beaten with an iron bar, throat slit) Media link Twitter

August

• Duwayne Smith (46) 03/08/2023 Randridge Smallholdings, Randfontein, GP (shot six times, wife shot in the back taken to Milpark Hospital, AK47 reportedly used in the attack) media report, media report
• TJ Tlali (71) 29/08/2023 Kagisanong, outside Bloemfontein, FS (multiple wounds to head and body, wife (64) found under mattress in critical condition) media link, media link, media link, media link
• Matthys van Niekerk "Thys" (65) 29/08/2023 Farm Uitkyk, between Cradock and Hofmeyr, EC (stabbed, allegedly throat slit) media link
• Antony (Tony) Dinnis (73) 30/08/2023 Middelrus, Mooi River, KZN (multiple murder, kidnapped from their farm, dismembered) media link media link media link
• Gillian (Jill) Dinnis (78) 30/08/2023 Middelrus, Mooi River, KZN (multiple murder, kidnapped from their farm, dismembered) media link media link media link

September

• Leentjie Adams (57) 02/09/2023 Piketberg, WC (body found 05/09 under a partial zinc roof amongst bushes) media link
• Colin Bone (76) 27/09/2023 Groot-Brakrivier, near Reebokfontein, Mossel Bay, WC (attacked with pick-axe handle on 17/09, passed away in hospital) media link media link

October

• Jayden Louw (14) 07/10/2023 Bapsfontein, GP (shot, died shortly later in hospital, 5 armed males, two vehicles with Mozambique reg plates) media link media link
• Lesley Stark (32) 23/10/2023 Umkomaas, KZN (assaulted and stabbed when responding to a neighbours attack) media link

November

• Mateki Mosito (56) 03/11/2023 Barry's farm, Westonaria, GP (shot twice in the chest) media link
• Anita Clapton (68) 10/11/2023 Reivilo, NW (tied up, beaten to death, husband hospitalised in serious condition) media link

December

• Arrie Willem Smit (70) 08/12/2023. Mamusa smallholdings, Schweizer-Reneke, NW (three gunshot wounds to his upper body) media link, media link
• Willem van der Westhuizen (72) 18/12/2023 farm outside Vanrhynsdorp, WC (stabbed in the neck) media link, media link
• Rassie Smith (69) 19/12/2023 Andeon AH, Pretoria West, GP (shot in the head 12/12, died in hospital 19/12) media link media link
• Jannie Jacobus Weideman (60) 21/12/2023 farm on the Nelspan Ground Rd, Ermelo, MP (found murdered in living room) media link media link media link
• Coen van Der Walt (67) 24/12/2023 Amalia, Schweizer-Reneke, NW (shot twice} media link media link

2024 January

• Seven farm attacks during January 2024: 2 in Gauteng, 1 in the Eastern Cape, 1 in Mpumalanga, 1 in the North West, 1 in the Western Cape, 1 in the Free State which was averted. No murders reported. media link

February

• Hugo van Sittert (71) 08/02/2024 Farm Bok se Puts, between Keimoes and Kakamas, NC (bludgeoned over the head) media link
• Hemmilton Khambana (54) 09/02/2024 Dennilton, LP (Poultry farmer chased and shot dead by two armed males) media link SAPS report

March

• Twelve farm attacks during March 2024: 4 in the Free State, 1 in the Western Cape, 3 in Gauteng, 1 in Limpopo, 1 in KZN, 1 in the Eastern Cape, 1 in the North West. No murders were reported. *https://archive.is/NPlOb

Further information sought

• [Male victim] (41) 30/04/2023 Farm Geluk, Kroonstad, FS (farm worker shot dead) media link, media link