Farmers urged to step up security after 7 ‘brutal’ farm murders in South Africa during the past week

Farmers and rural residents are being urged to step up their security and preparedness in an “urgent appeal” from AfriForum, as the organisation notes that have been “at least seven farm murders nationwide in the past week”. The DA has also called for a Commission of Inquiry into farm murders, following four particularly brutal murders this weekend, in two separate incidents.

“In both incidents, the elderly was targeted,” says AfriForum. “Hennie and Anneke Claassen were brutally tortured and murdered on a farm outside Ohrigstad (Limpopo), while Pierre and Belinda de Kock were murdered on their farm outside Piketberg (Western Cape).”

Another couple murdered on a farm this weekend. Their names are Pierre and Belinda De Kock. They were killed on their farm Aurora close to Piketberg in the Western Cape. Say their names MR President! They are NOT just numbers! pic.twitter.com/VaqqOHxKTX

— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) June 5, 2023

Noko Masipa – DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture – said in a statement that the DA is “deeply saddened and disturbed by the heinous farm murders that occurred over the weekend”.

Masipa says:

“The brutal murder of a prominent businesswoman and her family member at a farm in Limpopo, where their bodies were set alight while they were still alive, is an appalling and shocking crime. Such acts of violence have no place in our society, and those responsible must be apprehended swiftly and brought to justice.

“Additionally, the murder of Pierre and Belinda De Kock on their farm in Aurora, Western Cape, adds to the growing concern about the safety and security of our farming communities. We express our deepest sympathies to their loved ones and condemn this act of violence in the strongest possible terms.”

The brutal way in which these crimes are carried out is a clear indication that this is not just ordinary crime

This is Anneke Claassen (73). On Saturday she was set alight while alive, after being tortured & left to burn to death. Hennie Claassen (77) was killed in the same way. This happened on the farm Klipfonteinhoek close to Ohrigstad in Limpopo. pic.twitter.com/4FfFgc846e

— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) June 5, 2023

AfriForum says it “urges farmers and rural residents to urgently get involved with their local neighbourhood or farm watches. The only way to curb these horrific attacks is for communities to mobilize and step up their preparedness.” Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s spokesperson for Community Safety says:

“The brutal way in which these crimes are carried out is a clear indication that this is not just ordinary crime. AfriForum will continue to put pressure on the government and demand that farm attacks be declared a priority crime and receive the necessary attention from the authorities.”

The DA says it is “gravely concerned about the rising number of farm murders in our country, which further underscores the urgent need for effective action to address this issue. It is deeply troubling that there have been a total of five farm murders this weekend alone. We cannot stand idly by as our farming communities live in constant fear for their lives and face the devastation of losing loved ones. These farm murders threaten the country’s food security.”

The DA says Bheki Cele and his SAPS are “clearly failing people in rural areas”, despite an existing rural safety plan.

“Considering these alarming incidents and in line with our Congress Resolution that was adopted with a resounding majority, the Democratic Alliance will write to the President to request the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into farm murders. This independent inquiry will allow for a thorough investigation into the underlying causes of these crimes and provide recommendations for comprehensive measures to safeguard our farming communities,” says the DA’s Masipa.

Meanwhile South African rugby star Lukas van Biljon was said to be “broken and devastated” after his father Andre died from gunshot wounds in a horrific farm attack in South Africa.

Andre van Biljon, 70, was shot three times in the chest at midnight last Saturday whilst his son ex-Springbok hooker Lukas, 47, was stabbed repeatedly with a knife, and kicked.

Six armed men had stormed the family farm in darkness at Oranjeville in the Free State. and tied up Lukas’s children with cable ties, then sneaked into Lukas’s bedroom.

The 6ft 2 former hooker was woken with a 9mm pistol to his head and in a brief struggle was stabbed a number of times until he was told by the gang that they had his sons. They warned him his son would be shot dead if he tried to resist.

Meanwhile his brave dad Andre had made a run to reach a radio to alert his fellow farmers that they were under attack, but tragically he was spotted and shot three times.

The bullets hit him in the chest and he was rushed in critical condition to the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, but lost his fight for life at 1.30pm last Tuesday.

A close farmer friend said: ”Lukas is broken and devastated and, along with the Van Biljon family, had been with Andre at his bedside since he was operated on.

“But they were serious injuries and his body finally gave out on him. They shot him from close range in cold blood. He was an old man and could not fight back.

“Lukas said he has been greatly comforted by the world of rugby coming together to support him and his family along with the local farming community,” he said.

Farmer Andre died on Tuesday, the day Minister of Police Bheki Cele revealed the latest SA crime figures of 6000 people murdered in the first three months of 2023.

Retired hooker and former Sharks player Lukas played 13 times for his country between 2001 and 2003 but was dropped after a string of high-profile nightclub brawls.

His first game was versus Italy and his last game was versus New Zealand.

South African Police spokesman Captain Loraine Earle said two of the attackers were arrested after local farmers had been alerted and set up road blocks and caught them.

She said: ”Just after midnight on Saturday the police were called to a farm at Oranjeville belonging to the Van Biljon family where two men had suffered injuries.

“It is alleged that six armed men entered the house and tiedup the children with cable ties and a 47-year-old man was stabbed and his 70-year-old father was shot.

“Two men were arrested and charged with house robbery and attempted murder but that charge has now been upgraded to murder following the death of Mr van Biljon.

“We are still looking for the other four men involved in this attack” she said.

The two arrested men Khanye Muthi, 32, and Latin Mofokeng, 42, appeared before Heilbron Magistrate’s Court last Monday in handcuffs and applied for bail and were remanded in custody until today, June 5.

A friend said: “I am SICK IN MY CORE that criminals can do so much damage to a Family. Without looking or blushing. Their lives will never be the same again. Not in the way that it happened. Never ever ever again. LORD hold the Van Billion Family in Your Hands. A husband, father, brother and grandfather ripped away by criminals. No respect for life and love. We are sorry, Lukas. SO VERY SAD . FOR ALL OF YOU. For most people just another statistic. So much pain and hopelessness for the family. Hands have been chopped off. Helpless.”

Farmers in South Africa are under daily threat with 333 brutal attacks throughout the country last year which resulted in 55 horrific murders of men, women and children.

The attacks have sometimes been highlighted by the cruelty inflicted with women often raped and both men and women first tortured with hot irons, power tools and boiling water.

SA’s crime figures – 80 murders a day and over 120 rapes – make it one of the most dangerous countries in the world to live, with conviction rates extremely low.

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