Top 10 Farm Murder Stories from 2019

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With the COVID-19 virus in full swing and South Africa under lockdown, it seems that the problems of whites in South Africa have been swept under the carpet. Currently, South Africans are facing an extension of the lockdown that would end around May 1.

It remains to be seen what will happen in South Africa as well as the United States. Understand that in spite of this current so-called crisis, there are those of us here in the United States who have our eyes on South Africa, and we are watching.

In an effort to bring attention to the seriousness of farm murders in South Africa, I did a round-up of stories from 2019 to demonstrate the seriousness of the problem. These crimes against farmers are brutal. It's never enough to just rob someone. White farmers have been murdered, tortured, and treated in the most barbaric ways.

One point I want to make is that one of the things I learned when reading these articles is that Afriforum faced a lot of criticism over their complaints about the number of farm murders. What's interesting here is that Afriforum gets its numbers on farm attacks and murders directly from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This means they're using primary sources for their reporting. Considering there are around 30,000 farmers in South Africa and approximately 3-4,000 have already been murdered since 1994 when the African National Congress (ANC) took control of the government, this definitely causes concern. Afriforum is blowing the whistle for a reason. This is a real crisis.

In no particular order, let me present what I see as the top 10 farm murder stories for last year:

Most Farm Attacks In Free State Farms Occur Over Weekends

Farmer's Weekly reported that in the Free State, most of the farm attacks are occurring over the weekends. In 2018, approximately 19 attacks occurred. During the same six month period in 2019, 24 attacks occurred resulting in four homicides. According to SAPS, 497 stock thefts also occurred during the same period.

Julius Malema Laughs Off Request to “Stop Farm Murders” in SA

It seems that when the issue of farm murders is brought up, Julius Malema is somehow always involved in it. In a tweet sent out by Twitter user @BothaMiriam, she called on Malema to get involved and help stop the attacks and murders.

Malema replied that Miriam Botha was drunk from Klipdrift Brandy and Coke. The exchange generated a firestorm on Twitter and sadly, Malema's comments drew thousands of likes while many supporters found the exchange to be hilarious.

Mimie Frost: Malema, Magashule Told to ‘Take Responsibility’ for Farm Murder

According to a story reported by The South African, the Free State's DA Leader Roy Jankielsohn told Malema and Ace Magashule to take responsibility for the murder of 77-year-old farmer Mimie Frost. Frost succumbed to her injuries after a particularly brutal attack.

Jankielsohn condemned Malema and Magashule for their fiery rhetoric against white landowners and claimed that their language was an incitement to racially motivated violence.

Witness Describes Terror of Western Cape Farm Attack and Murder of Heila Kilian

In an article from SA People, witness Shaun Vorster described the brutal attack and farm murder of Heila Kilian. The attack and murder came in April 2018 when Kilian was staying with her sister, Brenda Thomas and Thomas's husband, engineer David Thomas.

Kilian, the Thomases, and Vorster were cooking kebabs over open coals in the backyard when a group of five men approached. One of the men approached Kilian from behind and shot her in the back of the head, killing her instantly. The three survivors were then tortured for over two hours before Brenda Thomas managed to escape. The assailants forced Mr. Thomas to open his safe where they stole a shotgun, a pistol, hunting knives, and cash.

The story was reported internationally because of the brutality of the crime.

South Africa Farm Murder: Husband and Wife Tied Up And Shot By Gang of Six in Their Home

The Express UK reported that Isak van den Berg and his wife Ina, from Boshoff in the Free State, were tied up, brutally beaten and then shot to death. The attack and murder occurred when Mr. van den Berg returned home on a Friday night after taking a farmworker home.

Five of the attackers were in custody while a sixth was being sought. The charges were as follows:

murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, aggravated robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and theft.

 South African Wine Farmer in Land Dispute Is Shot Dead

In the United States, the fourth-largest US newspaper, The New York Times, reported on the murder of a South African wine farmer. Stefan Smit, a wine farmer in the Stellenboch wine region was shot and killed after four men entered his home.

The original tensions stemmed from shack dwellers living on Smit's land, as well as the current tensions over land expropriation without compensation in South Africa.

White South African Farm Activist Beaten to Death with Hammer

In one of the most chilling stories from last year, The Metro UK reported that farm activist Annette Kennealy, 51, who lived in the Limpopo province, was staying with an employee at the time of the murder.

Kennealy, who was a DA councillor for three years, was a very vocal supporter of the Afrikaaner community as well as being a prominent farmer. A 40-year-old male suspect was arrested in connection with her death. No motive has been given.

Farm Murder: Anger as 71-year-old Farmer Killed by Thugs in Free State

In another story in The South African, a gang of six attacked and murdered Johannes Mazibuko. This was the second attack and murder in five days in the Free State after the murders of Isak van den Berg and his wife Ina.

Mazibuko was an elderly "emerging farmer," and the attack sparked outrage among politicians in the district. He lived in Frankfort, and it was reported that his throat had been cut. Several suspects were apprehended, but the Democratic Alliance claimed it was too late.

North West Farm Murder: Anc Told to ‘Take Responsibility’ for Brutal Killing

In Leeufontein, a couple in their 60s was attacked. Schalk “Willie” van der Merwe, 67, died after being stabbed with a sharp instrument. His partner Lettie was reported to be in the hospital in critical condition.

Mr. van der Merwe and his partner were attacked by at least four attackers who pretended to make a deal with the couple for the purchase of sheep. Jacqueline Theologo, the Democratic Alliance's spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, placed the blame with South Africa's ruling party, the ANC. Theologo said that the ANC had been lax in protecting farmers.

Farm Attacks on the Increase in Western Cape - AfriForum

News24 reported that 184 farm attacks and 20 murders took place between January 1 and May 31 of 2019. Civil rights group Afriforum cautioned against drawing conclusions on the reasons behind the attacks.

Ian Cameron, Head of Community Safety for Afriforum said that there were an additional 51 incidents that took place in the province of Gauteng. He stated that previously the Western Cape had been quiet when it came to farm murders. The latest figures from the group show an increase in farm attacks in the Western Cape.

How a Survivor of a South African 'Farm Murder' is Fighting Back

In the US, one of the top broadcasting networks, Fox News, reported that mother of four Mariandra Heunis came to Washington to meet with politicians to bring awareness to the farm murders.

Heunis lost her husband in a farm attack. Unlike many of the attacks where the farmers are usually elderly, Heunis is 32 while her husband was 43 at the time of his death.

Heunis said that the intruders came onto their rural property and entered their home. The attackers demanded money while holding Heunis and her family at gunpoint. Heunis and her husband insisted they didn't have any money. Then one of the attackers started shooting.

Huneis said that although she doesn't expect America to solve the problem of farm murders, she does want to put the spotlight on the issue because it is a problem. Efforts by whites in South Africa have led to a lot of criticism over the issue because so many, including some politicians, don't think there's a problem.

The following graphic was posted on Reddit and produced by Afriforum to illustrate the issue.

Photo via https://www.reddit.com/r/RSA/comments/f692yj/afriforum_2019_farm_murder_stats/

Draw your own conclusions on the issue. Although Afriforum did say that there were differing reasons for the attacks and farm murders, it's obvious that farm murders and attacks are a problem for South Africa. The ANC led government has failed to address the problem.

To put it into context, if the same thing were happening in the United States, and 10 percent of American farmers had been murdered, we would have lost 200,000+ farmers. Americans would have been screaming bloody murder right now.

It's way past time to get the world involved. Not only do South Africans need to take this seriously, but the South African government also needs to take it seriously as well. So does the world.