TLU SA urges farmers to stay alert while farm attacks increase
TLU SA is anxious about the increase in farm attacks, which this weekend lead to five murders. It earnestly urges farmers, their families and workers to be alert at all times.
“The nine attacks of this weekend confirmed our observation that the marked decrease in violent crimes on farms during the first week of the lockdown, was shortlived,” says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, the chairman of TLU SA’s Safety Committee and deputy president of TLU SA. “The first six months of 2020 mirror the same period in 2019.”
Apart from the increase in crime, the lockdown also leads to further complications when police stations have to close after exposure to COVID-19 temporarily. The public often does not have any alternative numbers for SAPS members at these stations, and they are left to their own devices during attacks.
“It’s been some time since TLU SA realised they could not depend on the government to safeguard them,” says Mr Geldenhuys. “People who live on farms increasingly have to make use of their own abilities and capacity to ensure their safety. The solution lies in personal alertness and readiness.”
From the feedback after failed attacks, it is clear that victims who were highly alert and ready – with a weapon on hand – could effectively prevent an attack. The reaction of a well-organised Farm Watch made up of members who know the environment and residents is invaluable when the reaction time and effective action of the police are limited.
Safety starts with the individual farmer, then the family and workers and then branches out to neighbours, Farm Watch and the police. It is crucial to be prepared by doing the following:
Keep a weapon for self-defence within reach;
Have your contingency plan in place;
Ensure the ability to communicate from the farm, is established.
TLU SA urgently requests farmers to join local safety structures and always to be alert.
TLU SA moedig boere aan om paraat te bly terwyl plaasaanvalle toeneem
TLU SA is uiters bekommerd oor die styging in plaasaanvalle wat die naweek weer gelei het tot vyf moorde en moedig boere, gesinne en werkers ernstig aan om te alle tye paraat te wees.
“Die naweek se nege aanvalle het ons waarneming dat die merkbare daling van geweldsmisdade op plase en hoewes gedurende die eerste paar weke van die inperking kortstondig was, bevestig,” sê mnr. Henry Geldenhuys, die voorsitter van TLU SA se Veiligheidskomitee en adjunk-president van TLU SA. “Die eerste ses maande van 2020 is bykans ‘n spieëlbeeld van die situasie gedurende dieselfde periode in 2019.”
Afgesien van stygende misdaad het die inperking ook gelei tot komplikasies wanneer polisiestasies as gevolg van COVID-19 besmettings tydelik moes sluit. Die publiek is dikwels nie bewus van alternatiewe kontaknommers vir SAPD-lede by hierdie stasies nie en is dan aan hulself oorgelaat tydens aanvalle.
“TLU SA het lankal reeds besef dat landbouers nie op die regering kan staatmaak vir beveiliging nie,” sê mnr. Geldenhuys. “Plaasbewoners moet toenemend hulle eie vermoëns en kapasiteit inspan om veiligheid te verseker. Die oplossing lê in persoonlike paraatheid.”
Uit die terugvoer na onsuksesvolle aanvalle is dit duidelik dat slagoffers wat ‘n hoë vlak van paraatheid handhaaf – met ‘n vuurwapen byderhand – effektief die aanval kon afweer. In dieselfde trant is die reaksie van ‘n goed georganiseerde Plaaswag wat bestaan uit lede wat die omgewing en inwoners goed ken, van onskatbare waarde wanneer die reaksietyd en effektiewe optrede van die plaaslike polisie beperk is.
Veiligheid begin by die individuele boer, daarna die gesin en werkers en vloei oor na die bure, Plaaswag en polisie. Dit is belangrik om voorbereid te wees deur die volgende te doen:
Hou ‘n selfverdedingsvuurwapen byderhand;
Gebeurlikheidsbeplanning moet in plek wees; en
Maak seker die kommunikasievermoë van ‘n plaas af, is gevestig.
TLU SA doen ‘n dringende beroep op boere om by die plaaslike veiligheidstrukture in te skakel en te alle tye paraat te wees.
