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This study investigates the motivational factors for farm attacks and the consequent injurious phenomena as reported by surviving victims and/or relatives of victims.
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AN INVESTIGATION OF THE MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS FOR FARM ATTACKS AND ITS CONSEQUENTIAL INJURIOUS PHENOMENA Gumbi MGC Roelofse CJ Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice University of Limpopo Turfloop Campus FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL RURAL CRIME CONFERENCE SOUTH AFRICA : 27 SEPTEMBER 2017
Introduction • The researcher’s interest stems from initial observations made on internet sources where the brutality of attacks are graphically illustrated, like the ‘Stop Boer Genocide’ website, which portrays the gruesome images of people tortured with hot irons and others heads were bashed in. This paper will explain the motivational factors of farm attacks and its consequential injurious phenomena as reported by surviving victims and/or relatives of victims that were murdered.
Definition of Concepts • NB: Farm attack not classified whether at common law or statutory provisions. It therefore involves the crimes such as murder, robbery, house-breaking with intent to rob or robbery, murder, rape, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, arson and the malicious damage to property (Roests 2012:11). • The National Priority Committee for Rural Safety defines a farm attack as “Acts of violence against farms and smallholdings… aimed at any person or persons living on, working at or visiting farms or smallholdings with the intent to either murder, rape, rob or otherwise inflict bodily harm or to intimidate.” (in Claasen 2016:1).
Definition Continues… • The South African Police Service 2011 Rural Safety Strategy defines farm attacks as follows: • “Acts of violence against persons on farms and smallholdings refer to acts aimed at a person/s residing on, working on or visiting farms and smallholdings, whether with the intent to murder, rape, rob or inflict bodily harm… In addition, all acts of violence against the infrastructure and property in the rural community aimed at disrupting legal farming activities as commercial concern, whether the motives/s are related to ideology, land disputes, land issues, revenge, grievance, racist concerns or intimidation are included.” (Wilkenson, 2017: 1). • For the purpose of this study, these definitions are used but to spatially delimit the crimes as set out by Roets (2012) above, the researcher adds the following: perpetrated on farms or smallholdings, excluding domestic violence and/crimes caused by disputes between family members and friends.
METHODOLOGY • Qualitative research design. • Data triangulated using interviews and observations • Thematic Content Analysis. • Geographic Limitations • Mpumalanga and Limpopo (financial constrain). • Time frame : 2005-2015
METHODOLOGY CONTINUES… • Target Population : Surviving victims and family members of deceased victims. - Organized farming groups = TAU SA & AgriSA = supplied contacts of farming security structures = liaised with attacked farmers & family members of deceased victims. • Sampling: Non-probability, purposive sampling. Security co-ordinators of agricultural unions assisted researcher to contact surviving victims and family members of deceased. • Sample consisted of 23 participants = data saturation.
Study Strengths • Semi-structured one-on-one interviews • Acquired data is supported by a comprehensive literature and theoretical framework. • Triangulation = observations such as, intruder paths, bullet markings and scars is used to back-up interviewed data.
Study weaknesses • Results are only reflective of farm attacks in the delimited area. • The study relied heavily on the victims’ perspectives concerning the motivational factors of farm attacks as an injurious phenomenon.
Literature Review • FARM ATTACKS ON THE RISE. • Pretorius (2016:1) states that the bi-annual statistics point out that during the year 2012, 174 farm attacks occurred, in 2013 the number increased to 231 and increased again during 2014 to 279. It reached a significant high during 2015 with 318 people reportedly attacked on their farms.
Literature (Consequences) • Threat to food security and poverty alleviation; • Hinders economic growth (delay on food production); (Hosken 2012:1). • Attacks are accompanied by extreme forms of violence (van Zyl2008:40-50); • Psycho-social effects. RURAL SAFETY • Rural safety Prior 1994 - Characterized by Commando system comprised of local farmers who were issued with state weapons.
Literature … Continues… • Rural safety Mandela Era • Formation of the Rural Protection Plan (RPP) with help of the Commando Units to enhance safety of farmers, farm workers and other people visiting the farm (Roelofse& Helm 2011:17). • Rural Safety Post Mandela Era • Phasing out of Commando system and substituting it with Sector Policing Institutional Knowledge lost. - Sector Policing was hurriedly introduced to SAPS members who had no prior knowledge of its strategies (Roelofse & Helm 2011: 18).
Literature … Continues…. • Mudus Operandi of an attack • The reconnaissance phase: attackers survey the farm to identify weak spots. • Operational Phase: attack occurs lasting for minutes to several hours. • Escape phase: attackers will steal owners vehicles or use their own to flee the crime scene Bezuidenhout & Klopper (2011:213)
Literature continues… • Causes of farm attacks • S.A violent past e.g. civic and labour unrest during apartheid = culture passed to next generation(South African History Online 2011:1). • Singing of hate speech songs “Kill the farmer, Kill the Boer” misinterpreted (InfoUpdate 2011). • Justified grievances of the past = power struggle for resources particularly the ownership of land (Olivier & Cunningham 2006:117-118) (Grace Bhuthelezi) • “S.A’s 1st republic was born in a struggle between white settlers and an external imperial authority for the right to suppress, plunder and exploit an African people.” (Jack and Ray Simons 1983).
Findings & Discussions • Biographic details • 23 surviving victims of farm attacks were interviewed, with ages ranging from 38 to 88. • 15 of the respondents were male and 8 were female. • Attack planned • Attackers will poison dogs and burn unidentified chemical substance to keep victims asleep. • Attackers form a temporary base around the farm for days; maybe weeks from where they could reconnoitre the victims house and routine. This illustrates intelligence and patience in executing the attack.
Organised crime • The loot gathered from the attack is used to fund operations of a crime syndicate. • Intricate organized body of individuals who use signs around the farmers property as a form of communication e.g. rocks, tempered fence, markings etc. • Hit squad and getaway vehicle = form of organized attack. • Attackers not from same location. • Inside-Information - Kingpins have cell-groups in every town who provide information. • Attackers had prior knowledge of the security of the farm. • Circumstantial evidence available e.g. choosing correct keys of safes and escape routes. • Most of the victims suspect that their employees might have provided attackers with information on the layout of the house.
Intimidation • The attackers will fire their weapons randomly without prior warning towards the victims and flee the scene afterwards; they will not steal anything. In such instances it is clearly pre-meditated murder or attempted murder • Apprehended attackers stated that the order was to kill and take control of the surviving victims farm. • Fear through intimidation is a tactic to drive farmers off their land. • Military Trained • Attack is executed with fine precision. • The victims found that some of the apprehended attackers were out on bail for having allegedly committed cash-in-transit heists. • Attackers will run more than 4km carrying rifles to their getaway vehicles. • Weapon handling skills, cleaning crime scene = Military training. • Surveying the farm and routine activities of farmer = military reconnaissance.
Seeking Weapons • Attackers are not distracted by other items in the house. • Victims suspect that weapons are used for bank robberies and cash in transit heists. • Land Claims • Participants adhered to principle of willing buyer and seller. • Attack not because of land claim but tactic to force them off the land. • Disputes with labourers - Participants maintain that they have a good relationship with their labourers. (observation at conveyer belt).
Police Reaction • Victims stated that police reaction is unsatisfactory and alluded to the following: • Difficulty opening case dockets at the station. • The police attend to crime scene after it has been contaminated. • Police look for evidence from the victim as to why the attack occurred. • Careless during investigation, with one officer forgetting his rifle at the crime scene. • A police service pistol was used during the attack, but not reported stolen; only reported missing after the attack. • The police take hours before they arrive at the crime scene. • Surviving victims allege that dockets and exhibits are lost at the police station. • Only 1 from the 23 respondents stated that they were satisfied with the police reaction.
Security • Respondents feel that good security acts as a motivation to attack because of the view that more valuables are present. • The respondents stated that they feel targeted irrespective of good security. • Target farms with good security because of idea that there is more items to be looted. • Tight security is not a form of deterrence because farms are in a secluded area. • Farm watch system = formed and funded by farmers, responsible for tracing wanted attackers immediately after an attack and helps bring down constant fears of being attacked.
Recommendations & Conclusion • Sector Policing • The researcher opines that safety and security in South Africa should not be based on ideology which is not practically implementable, but should be directed by tried and tested mechanisms. • Formation of a separate daily police patrol unit mandated to patrol farms, particularly at night. • Police should act swiftly on intelligence provided by farm watch groups. • There should be a farming orientated policing approach, which aims to engage farmers in crime prevention programmes in their geographical locations.
Reco & Con … Continues … • Rural Safety • Expand police service delivery e.g. more patrols, improve investigations and conviction rate. • Improve relationship between farmers and police. • A monthly, quarterly and yearly inspection in police stations. • Prioritizing Crime in the Rural Areas • Improved proactive crime control measures. • All socialization institutions and organs of the state be involved. • Eliminate precipitating factors to commit crime. • Improve private security and better boarder control.
Reco & Con … Continues • Government needs to declare farm attacks as a priority crime and impose harsher sentences. • General KhomotsoPhahlane stated the following: “Our resolve is to have these types of crimes prioritised, so that they receive the attention that they deserve from the SAPS… We all agree that farm murders and attacks are an issue that warrants attention from all of us…”
ATTENTION: • The next four slides contain graphic images, therefore sensitive viewers are advised to close their eyes or leave the hall.
Quotes • Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela stated the following on farming security at the Summit of Rural Safety and Security on the 10th of October 1998: • “Beyond the immediate human suffering, lack of security and stability in our rural and farming community causes serious disruption to our economy. It threatens to bring reduced growth or production, loss of wages and profits and in time unemployment. It brings the spectre of deepening poverty, and potential social instability and upheaval”. (Roelofse & Helm 2011: 16).
