Groter ingryping deur die regering is nodig én ’n spesiale eenheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) moet op die been gebring word om plaasmoorde nasionaal te ondersoek om te kyk of dit georganiseerd is of nie.

Só sê Tommie Esterhuyse, Vise-president van Vrystaat Landbou (VL), ná ’n sinnelose dubbele plaasmoord, wat die aantal plaasmoorde in die Vrystaat in 2018 na vyf laat opskuif,  op 25 Junie 2018 op ’n bejaarde egpaar van Van Stadensrus.

VL spreek sy innige meegevoel uit teenoor die familie van Choppie Bruwer (78) en sy vrou, Marian (68), wat vermoor is en veroordeel enige vorm van plaasaanvalle en misdade.

Volgens Esterhuyse word die wrede wyse waarop weerlose bejaardes vermoor is ten sterkste veroordeel. “Veral gesien in die lig daarvan dat hulle (die egpaar) vir jare voedsel op die tafel gesit het vir mense wat hulle nou skuldig maak aan misdade,” sê hy. “Dit regverdig groter ingryping deur die regering.”

VL meen die belangrikheid van landbouers kan nie oorbeklemtoon word nie, aangesien hul werksaamhede ’n direkte invloed op voedselsekuriteit en werkskepping in Suid-Afrika het.

Esterhuyse sê plaasmoorde regverdig selfs ’n kommissie van ondersoek deur die owerhede.

Die Bruwers is deur ’n onbekende aantal aanvallers aangeval en vermoor. Hulle is glo aan stoele vasgebind en geskiet. Die aanvallers het onder meer vuurwapens gesteel en met die egpaar se Silver Chevrolet Spark (registrasienommer FWZ 736 FS) gevlug. Die voertuig is intussen gevind. Boet Wilken, Voorsitter van VL se Jongboer-komitee wat ook in die omgewing boer, was een van die eerstes op die toneel.

Volgens Gerhard Kriel, Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte van VL, vorder die SAPD se ondersoek goed. Die polisie volg leidrade op en het reeds moontlike verdagtes vir ondervraging aangekeer. Nog geen arrestasies is gemaak nie.

Kriel meen klem moet egter eerder op pro-aktiewe optrede gelê word om sulke voorvalle te voorkom.

Volgens die VL VKB Veiligheidslessenaar se inligting is daar reeds sedert Januarie vanjaar 14 plaasaanvalle in die Vrystaat voorkom. Dit is danksy goeie inligtingsnetwerke, tussen VL se strukture op grondvlak, plaaswagte, landbouers en die SAPD as primêre rolspelers, waar die vloei van inligting lei tot die suksesvolle voorkoming van plaasaanvalle en –moorde.

In 2016 (17 aanvalle) en 2017 (15) is altessam 32 plaasaanvalle in die provinsie voorkom.

’n Voorbeeld is verlede naweek toe goeie samewerking deur alle rolspelers gehelp het om ’n plaasaanval in Koppies te voorkom. Drie misdadigers is hieroor gearresteer.

“Dit is juis nou wat samewerking in die landbou, binne die veiligheidstrukture en met die polisie en belanghebbendes, beklemtoon moet word om aanvalle en moorde op plase te voorkom,” sê Kriel.

 

Free State Agriculture requests special unit after double farm murder in Van Stadensrus

Bigger government intervention is needed and a special unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) must be established to investigate farm murders nationally to see if it is organized or not.

This is according to Tommie Esterhuyse, Vice President of Free State Agriculture (FSA), after a senseless double farm murder, which brought the number of farm murders in the Free State to five this year, on 25 June 2018 on an elderly couple from Van Stadensrus.

FSA expresses its sympathy towards the family of Choppie Bruwer (78) and his wife, Marian, (68) who has been murdered and condemn any form of farm attacks and crimes.

According to Esterhuyse, the cruel manner of the murders on a vulnerable elderly people is strongly condemned. “Especially, given the fact that they (the couple) have been producing food for years to people who now make themselves guilty of crimes,” he said. “It justifies greater intervention by government.”

FSA believes the importance of farmers cannot be overemphasized, as their operations have a direct impact on food security and job creation in South Africa.

Esterhuyse says farm murders even justify a commission of inquiry by the authorities.

The Bruwers were attacked and killed by an unknown number of attackers. They were apparently tied to chairs and shot. The attackers stole firearms and fled with the couple’s Silver Chevrolet Spark (registration number FWZ 736 FS). The vehicle has been found. Boet Wilken, Chairman of FSA’s Young Farmer committee who also farms in the area, was one of the first people on the scene.

According to Gerhard Kriel, Chief Executive Officer of FSA, the SAPS investigation is proceeding well. Police are following clues and have already spoken to a few possible suspects. No arrests have been made yet.

Kriel however believes that an emphasis must be placed on a proactive approach to prevent such incidents.

According to the FSA VKB Safety Desk’s information, 14 farm attacks in the Free State have been prevented since January this year. This is thanks to good communication networks, between FSA’s structures on ground level, farm guards, farmers and the SAPS as primary role players, where the flow of information leads to the successful prevention of farm attacks and murders.

In 2016 (17 attacks) and 2017 (15) a total of 32 farm attacks in the province were prevented.

An example was last weekend when good cooperation by all role players helped to prevent a farm attack in Koppies. Three criminals were arrested.

“Now, more than ever, is the time for cooperation in agriculture. Within the security structures, with the police and stakeholders. This must be emphasized to prevent attacks and murders on farms,” says Kriel.