The topic of farm attacks in South Africa came to my attention a few years ago via talk radio, but this summer it came up again, and I started looking into the matter more deeply. I have dug through media reports from the US, South Africa, and elsewhere; I have looked at documentation from the South African and other governments, and from various non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), including some NGO’s based in South Africa and which meet in conjunction with South African government officials; and, I am in touch via social media and email with people in South Africa and with people who have connections to South Africa.
I am now far more concerned than ever.
The evidence I have reviewed strongly indicates that criminal gangs are deliberately targeting South African farmers of European descent for home invasions and armed robberies; the attacks are noteworthy for gratuitous violence, torture and murder far beyond anything necessary for simple robbery, or even for opportunistic sexual assault.
The criminal gangs seem to be exclusively perpetrators of African descent, but their victims are not exclusively of European descent; black South Africans are brutally assaulted and murdered simply for working on a farm that belongs to a white South African.
The racial aspect is noteworthy, mainly because the leaders of political groups have sought to foment racial discord by making statements and even singing Apartheid-era songs that call for attacks on South Africans of European descent, blaming them for the country’s woes. Such race- and ethnic-baiting has long been a tactic of militant extremist groups seeking political power, and recalls the rise of the Nazis to power in Germany in the wake of World War I.
South Africa has a diverse population which includes people of Asian (mainly Indian, but also Chinese and some Vietnamese) descent. Xenophobic attitudes have resulted in violence that has been described as “well-orchestrated” targeting these communities; many ethnic Chinese business owners have packed up and left, moving to other countries, and others are considering their options. There has also been a history of attacks against blacks who happen to not be from South Africa. In all cases, calls for ethnic violence went a long way towards creating the environment in which that violence then occurred.
It is my opinion that South Africa is now an ethnic powderkeg.
Specifically regarding the farm attacks in South Africa, the following facts are particularly noteworthy:
1) the government was made abundantly aware of this problem more than two decades ago as the situation began to develop, having been informed both through feedback from South African citizens, and through statistics kept by South African police;
2) the government decided, against the recommendations of groups formed to study the problem, to disband special rural police units that provided more adequate security to farm communities; and,
3) the government simultaneously directed the police to stop keeping statistics on farm-related attacks, making it difficult to distinguish a significant rise in these kinds of crimes from the background noise of a crime rate that was otherwise high but not as high.
It is my opinion that there is a pattern of conduct and that, in aggregate, the South African government is conducting ethnic-cleansing-by-proxy and is, through its actions, obfuscating this serious crime against humanity. I believe that, if allowed to continue, this could easily be sparked into outright genocide and that it will, under any circumstances, eventually result in a famine as farm production inevitably declines. It is my further opinion that, considering the mineral and economic resources at stake, and the potential for regional destabilization that could result from such a crisis affecting Africa’s most developed and second largest economy, there are serious long-term risks for America’s national security.
Excellent analysis of the situation. Many thanks for your work and commitment.
Just to add that the legacy of poor working conditions and the often inhumane treatment of labour tenants on South African farms during the apartheid era can’t be wished away.
http://www.csvr.org.za/publications/1809-a-brutal-harvest-the-roots-and-legitimation-of-violence-on-farms-in-sa
While this is less widespread now, it still exists. Which makes it very difficult to help the communities now under attack. You may have noticed the blatant racism of many folk supporting Afriforum, Steve Hofmeyer, Willem Petzer and Danie Barnard. Hence that damaging article in The Citizen.
https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2014504/shocking-racist-memes-of-sas-far-right-exposed-in-discord-leaks/
Without having met them, I can’t comment on the veracity or otherwise of the newspaper’s claims.
The Afrikaner – and, by default, the white farmer – is widely perceived to be brutal and racist. My youngest son is appalled by what he sees among Afrikaans students at his university. My eldest son in the US would disown me if he knew what I’m trying to do to help.
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/i-was-scared-for-my-life-man-who-was-forced-into-coffin-20161116
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/farm-worker-shot-dead-near-krugersdorp-for-allegedly-stealing-tractor-20180108
http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/farm-worker-allegedly-forced-to-drink-faeces/
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/farmer-dragged-drunk-worker-70m-behind-bakkie-206263
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/the-brutal-farmer-stereotype
Against that backdrop, my sense is that your best bet is to keep plugging the link between farm attacks and drug trafficking. Enlightened self interest will force the international community to sit up and take notice. Farmers will benefit from that by default.
White South Africans have such a bad reputation as the architects, perpetrators and beneficiaries of apartheid that it could well take generations for things to settle down. There may even be a civil war. The similarities between South Africa and your own southern states during the antebellum era and after its demise are astonishing – but I don’t need to tell you that. I’m very, very worried.
Meanwhile, thanks for caring!