It is clear to TLU SA that criminals don’t heed the lockdown regulations, and farmers are increasingly the victims of their transgressions.
There is an apparent rise in the theft of agricultural products, such as crop and stock theft, while the increase of cable theft in some areas are also frustrating farmers’ production.
“What is of further concern is the explicit prohibition of farm guards and CPF’s to continue with their regular patrols and crime prevention actions by the minister of police,” says Mr Henk van de Graaf, the chairperson of TLU SA’s Northern region. “With the police now focussing on other areas, it means that rural areas are currently unprotected. Criminals know this and are abusing the situation.” It is worrying that the police prioritises persecuting people trying to buy alcohol or tobacco products, but does almost nothing to police the criminals threatening food security. Farmers are advised to increase the vigilance on their farms. The power of farm guards lies in the cooperation between roleplayers, effective communication, covering more significant areas than just their own farms, as well as patrolling public roads – which are often used as escape routes. Criminals welcome these desolate areas. “After the immense drought and the paralysing effect of foot and mouth disease on the agricultural sector, farmers cannot afford uncontrolled theft of their products because the minister of police took irrational decisions,” says Mr Van de Graaf. “Farmers are starting to view their farms as disaster areas and will have to implement emergency measures against any suspicious trespassing or movement on their farms,” he warns. “This will not benefit anyone. We are calling on the provincial government to urgently take this up with the national government to review the existing instructions quickly. We cannot continue like this for another three weeks.”
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