Haunting Photos from Van Zyl Farm Attack Protest Convoy in Mookgophong
Photos from today’s large protest convoy against farm attacks in Mookgophong (formerly Naboomspruit) and across the nation show some haunting scenes, as the farmers and farm workers who gathered together looked up at the sky with their arms crossed above. The protest came as three of the five suspects in the murder of Alwyn van […]
Photos from today’s large protest convoy against farm attacks in Mookgophong (formerly Naboomspruit) and across the nation show some haunting scenes, as the farmers and farm workers who gathered together looked up at the sky with their arms crossed above.
The protest came as three of the five suspects in the murder of Alwyn van Zyl (79) appeared in the Mookgophong Magistrate’s Court today. (The case was postponed to 7 October 2020 for medical reasons, with the court ordering that accused number two receives medical treatment after he had allegedly been assaulted.)
The Van Zyls were allegedly brutally attacked on their farm Badseloop at midnight by a gang of five on a night in March – ‘Oom’ Alwyn was tied up and strangled while his wife, René (66), was assaulted.
Today’s convoy – comprising various organisations, rural safety structures and members of the community – was aimed at expressing the farmers and communities’ disgruntlement about the wave of farm attacks that is currently ravaging South Africa, and to show their solidarity with the van Zyl family, said AfriForum which was one of the organisations that participated today.
“Although these sad circumstances brought us together, it is heart-warming to see that members of the community are protesting farm attacks more and more,” says Andries Opperman, AfriForum’s Safety Coordinator for Limpopo. “AfriForum will continue to create awareness for farm attacks and to help our communities to become more defensible. When we depart here today, we will return to our neighbourhood and farm watches. The same bakkies that participated in today’s convoy, will be driving patrol tonight and all other nights. We will offer resistance against these reprehensible attacks,”
According to Magdel Strauss, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Limpopo, enough is enough. “Communities must stand together and prioritise their safety. We want to encourage people to join their local safety structures to help defend the community.”