FSA demands urgent government intervention after farm murders & attacks in North West and Dewetsdorp

Free State Agriculture (FSA) strongly condemns the recent farm murders and attacks, especially in the North West. The murder of Hannetjie van Zyl outside Ottosdal and the brutal attack on Donovan Marx between Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp highlight the serious threat facing rural communities.

Furthermore, the incidents in Dewetsdorp in the Free State, in which an emerging farmer and two farm workers were murdered within a 6-week period, underline that this type of violence affects the entire agricultural community (1 September to 15 October 2026). In the Dewetsdorp area, the murders are directly linked to stock theft.

Francois Wilken, president of Free State Agriculture, emphasises that all farmers, farm workers and their families, and residents on farms and smallholdings have the right to live and work safely.

FSA expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes strength and recovery to those injured.

The Minister’s appeal must now lead to concrete action

Wilken states that FSA supports the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Willie Aucamp,’s appeal to treat farm attacks as priority crimes and insists that farm murders and farm attacks be explicitly prioritized. “The government must prove its seriousness by establishing sufficient resources, rapid police response, thorough investigations and successful prosecution.” says Wilken.

Free State Agriculture demands:

• Dedicated investigation teams, supported by crime intelligence and forensic expertise.

• Properly equipped rural police stations, with sufficient personnel, vehicles and reliable communication.
• Actual implementation of the National Rural Security Strategy (NRSS), in collaboration with agricultural structures and farm guards.
• Establishment of Rural Security units that will consist of civilians who will strengthen crime prevention efforts in rural areas.
• Regular feedback and support to victims and their families.

FSA further requests that the Ministers of Agriculture and Police announce a joint implementation plan within 30 days, with clear responsibilities, resources and deadlines. Wilken believes that the strategy lacks statutory backing that obliges the Police to implement, otherwise it remains a discretionary choice by commanders with no accountability, timescales and the provision of resources.

A recent survey conducted by Free State Agriculture on 25 October 2026 indicates that 47% of Free State border farms have allegedly been taken over by Lesotho citizens, through ownership, lease agreements, illegal immigration and/or illegal grazing. According to FSA, these circumstances also raise serious concerns about associated cross-border criminal activities.

Jakkals le Roux, chairperson of FSA’s Rural Safety Committee, warns that this situation poses a significant safety risk, not only to border farms and their surrounding farming communities, but also to adjacent agricultural areas.

“The Dewetsdorp community has for years expressed concern about the presence of illegal Lesotho citizens in the area and the associated risks of violent crime and property-related offences, particularly livestock theft. These concerns cannot continue to be ignored. Rural safety must be addressed as a broader national and cross-border crime prevention priority,” says Le Roux.

The bloodshed on farms and in rural areas requires urgent and sustained action. The lives of farmers and farm workers can no longer be the price of poor execution.