Farm Attacks: mostly greed and need - not always hate

Criminal intent and socio-economic desperation rather than racial hatred are behind many farm attacks in South Africa. This has emerged from a BizNews interview with former Public Prosecutor with the Department of Justice and ex South African Police Service (SAPS) Brigadier Julius Weideman. He is now a rural safety expert who has founded Landelike Beveiliging SA (Rural Safety SA). Weideman says Landelike Beveiliging SA is a non-political organisation that aims to get behind the real reasons of crime in the rural communities to better inform its response in addressing the risk and minimising the detrimental consequences to the economy. Meanwhile, says Weideman, the NPO’s primary objective is to prevent loss of life and injury - irrespective of what the motive of the perpetrator may be.