Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Bea Campbell-Cloete
The DA in Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality is outraged and saddened after another farm attack in the Kestell area.
The small town of Kestell was, again, rocked by the news of another farm attack in the area today, 9 February 2023. The incident happened at around 10:00. At the time of the incident, only two persons were present at the farm Modderfontein, situated on the T524 on the N5 between Kestell and Bethlehem. Suzaan Cordier and a farm worker were tied up and 6 suspects fled in a white Isuzu Double Cab Bakkie with a canopy. The registration number of the Bakkie is not known at this time.
The surrounding community activated messages for the community to be on the lookout. It is reported that Suzaan Cordier managed to raise the alarm before she was tied up and SAPS responded to the farm.
Following the gruesome farm attack on 15 July 2022 at Lismor Farm in the Kestell District, the DA called for the re-establishment of rural safety units. The suspects in the Lismor farm attack will appear in court again at the end of February 2023.
Due to the lack of Rural Safety Units not being in full operation, farm attacks are on the increase in rural communities and especially the vulnerable who are subjected to the most unimaginable torture.
The DA further reiterate our call for the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, to be axed. Under Cele, the Rural Safety Plan has still not been implemented countrywide, which shows his clear disregard for the plight of farmers and farm workers. These constant attacks against farmers and farm workers negatively affect farming and pose a real threat to food security.
The DA extends its gratitude to the SAPS for their quick response and hopes that the perpetrators will be caught and charged as soon as possible.
We will also engage with the Department of Community Safety to ascertain what steps are being taken to ensure SAPS has adequate resources to assist them with the strengthening of rural safety in the area.