Cape Town — Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, has challenged AfriForum to prove the crime statistics about farm murders in the country.
Minister Mchunu released the third quarter crime statistics last week, Friday, covering the period between 1 October 2024 and 31 December 2024. Police revealed there was a sharp decline in several crime categories including rape and murder.
However, AfriForum questioned the legitimacy and accuracy of the crime statistics and whether they captured the full reality that many communities in South Africa face, especially the farming communities.
“Although the Minister’s positive attitude towards promoting cooperation between communities and law enforcement is commendable, AfriForum remains sceptical about the latest crime statistics,” AfriForum.
Afname in misdaad of gebrekkige rekordhouding deur SAPD? @AfriForum skepties oor jongste statistiek https://t.co/hdsYIbmLH6 pic.twitter.com/JqlGAYG9eL
— AfriForum (@afriforum) February 21, 2025
In a statement, Mchunu said that AfriForum, ahead of their trip to the US, claimed that the police failed to mention that five farm workers were killed during the period. He challenged them to provide evidence of the crimes against farmers in South Africa, which they had claimed were “well-documented”.
“Any mention of dispute is therefore treated by us in a very serious light. We challenge Afriforum, as soon as they land back in South Africa, to provide us with evidence of their mentioned incidents, which they claim are well documented,” he said.
He said AfriFroum should put their case on the table so that everybody can see the facts.
Ministry of Police spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi said crime statistics were about the rate of crime and the impact it has on those directly affected by the loss of life. He said it was a matter to be treated with sanctity and respect and was not for pursuing any political agendas.
“We appeal to the South African public to desist from assumptions that belong to the past, where farm murders are the same as murders of white farmers. Afriforum’s dispute smirks of their feeling to take an ‘Orwellian’ approach to this subject, wherein there must always be a picture of high numbers of murders of white farmers, as was the practice in the past,” he said.
He added that the statistics showed that a white farmer was murdered during the third quarter, and anyone who disputed it could put their facts on the table.
We must account to the citizens of South Africa and keep them informed of the rate of crime in the country. Our quarterly crime statistics do just that. Anyone who disputes the statistics is welcome to adduce evidence to that effect @GovernmentZA @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/Hk586c3dxX
— Senzo Mchunu (@Senzo_Mchunu_) February 28, 2025
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Picture: X/@SAPoliceService
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
