Lobby group AfriForum on Wednesday made an urgent submission to the National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to classify farm attacks as a national priority crime.

The submission was made in terms of Section 17(d) of the South African Police Services Act.

In a letter send to Masemola, AfriForum chief spokesperson for community safety Jacques Broodryk maintained that the factual realities of farm attacks necessitate the “seriousness and urgency of prioritisation” and called for the involved of the specialised investigative skills of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

Broodryk argued that farm attacks, owing to the organised nature and national impact of these crimes, required specialised skills, coordination, dedicated investigative capacity and police resources.

“The impact of farm attacks on the stability of the country and the public’s confidence in the government’s ability to protect human life and property is presented as further justification for AfriForum’s application for the urgent prioritisation of farm attacks,” he said.

As part of the argument for prioritising farm attacks, AfriForum recommended the establishment of a dedicated Hawks task team to facilitate the development of a strategy for rural crime as well as farm-related crime.

This task team, the organisation said, should also coordinate cooperation with the South African Police Service (Saps) rural safety units, farming associations and private security agencies, ensuring proper recording, tracking and analysis of farm attacks and, where applicable, investigate political incitement in relation to farm attacks.

AfriForum’s submission to Masemola emphasised that farm attacks were not “simply an isolated type of crime” but, that it had far-reaching implications for rural communities and South Africa.

“According to AfriForum, farm attacks are characterised by extreme levels of violence; targeted attacks on vulnerable and isolated communities; and contain elements of political incitement that openly encourage violence against farmers. In addition, farm attacks have a significant impact on the local economy, have serious implications for food security and have a significant psychological and social destabilising effect, leading to the depopulation of rural areas, job losses and ultimately economic decline,” explained Broodryk.

He said the Saps, during its ongoing first National Policing Summit had the ideal opportunity to address the issue, claiming that farm attacks had been ignored by politicians and Saps leaders, despite the Saps having previously stated that farm attacks required a unique response.

“…now is the time to implement this response. Prioritising farm attacks is the only way to help achieve this objective for the rural community. It is time to stop politicking and take concrete steps in the interest of South Africa and its people,” emphasised Broodryk.