An analysis by Free State Agriculture found that the province was target of 72 farm attacks including 12 murders, which took place on agricultural land between 1 January and 31 December 2020.
There is an increase of 9 farm attacks (12.5%) that include 1 murder, in the 2020 calendar year;
Thirty-seven (37) towns' farming communities experienced farm attacks in a calendar year;
Prevention of farm attacks: 25 farm attacks were prevented in the calendar year 2020 due to proactive information that was liaised between farming communities and the police;
High crime areas with regard to farm attacks and murders identified as Bloemfontein (11 farm attacks largely on smallholdings in Bainsvlei, Bloemspruit, Navalsig and Park Road); Hobhouse (4), Marquard (3), Odendaalsrus (3 with 2 murders), Theunissen (3) and Virginia (3);
Day of Week: 41.67% of murders and 28.33% of attacks took place on a Monday – 48.33% of attacks took place over weekends (Fridays to Sundays);
Time periods: 50% of murders occurred between 18h00 and 22h00; 53.33% of attacks occurred from 18h00 to 23h59, thus 78.33% during nightly hours;
Month of the year: In October most of the murders occurred with 3; November had most of the attacks namely 8; from June farm attacks and murders escalated up to November 2020;
Day of the Month: From the 5th to 9th and 25th to 30/31st of the month 3 murders occurred each; from the 25th to 30/31st, 30% of the attacks occurred;
Victims: 100 persons became victims of farm attacks whilst 13 in murders; 4 deceased was older than 60years of age, whilst 3 was between 50-59; the oldest producer murdered was 81 years old whilst the youngest victim was 21; 5 producers, a producer’s wife and son, 2 upcoming farmers, 4 workers/foremen/security guards were murdered on agricultural land;
26 workers/foremen/security guards, 25 producers, 2 upcoming farmers, 1 livestock speculator, 5 persons living on farmers / smallholdings and 1 incident whereby a producer and workers were both attacked, occurred on agricultural land; in 10 attacks wives of producers or workers were attacked, in 5 incidents children became the victims of farm attacks; most victims (22) were 30-39 years old followed by 14 between the age of 40-49 whilst 19 victims were older than 60year of age;
Attackers: In 6 farm murders between 2-3 attackers, in 63.33% of attacks 2-3 attackers whilst in 15 attacks between 4-6 attackers executed such attacks;
Instrument used: in 66.67% of murders firearms were used to kill victims (shot); in 58.33% of attacks, attackers used firearms;
Items robbed: In 3 murders nothing was robbed; in 3 it is not known whether anything was robbed; 48.33% cell phones were robbed followed by cash, firearms and in 9 attacks livestock and vehicles; in 8 nothing was robbed due to the quick reaction from victims/inhabitants and or support base;
Where were victims attacked? 75% of murders were executed outside homesteads; 21 victims were attacked outside their homes when arriving home; 21 inside houses with forced entry;
Injuries: In 62.5% of attacks and murders, victims were murdered or seriously wounded (mostly head injuries);
Arrests: 50% of murders and in 23.33% of attacks, arrests were executed.
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