The Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), representing family farmers across South Africa, warns that the ongoing delay by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in releasing the first-quarter crime statistics seriously undermines rural safety and erodes public confidence in law enforcement.
Recent independent data from the Rural Safety Statistics Group SA shows that farm attacks have increased sharply in 2025, with 143 incidents recorded between January and October compared to 121 during the same period in 2024. This represents an average of 14.3 attacks per month, up from 12.1 last year, Saai said.
Gauteng remains the hardest hit with 32% of all farm attacks, followed by Mpumalanga (15%) and North West (13%), which together account for 60% of incidents nationwide. Limpopo (11%) and the Western Cape (10%) follow close behind.
Farm murders have shown a slight decrease with 16 murders in 2025 compared to 19 in 2024, representing 11% of all farm attacks. Gauteng again records the highest percentage with 31% of murders, followed by the Free State and Eastern Cape at 19% each.
“This delay is more than just an administrative issue. Every day without reliable data is a day where rural communities are forced to plan blind. When farmers don’t know what’s happening in their areas, it becomes nearly impossible to take preventative action or coordinate effectively with local police. The lack of timely information clearly shows that rural safety is not a government priority,” said Leon Lourens, Development Coordinator at Saai.
The SAPS’s failure to release timely crime data weakens Parliament’s oversight role and creates the perception that rural safety simply isn’t on the government’s agenda. The lack of accurate data makes it even harder to allocate resources effectively and respond to areas most at risk, Saai said.
Saai calls on Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, and the National Commissioner of SAPS to immediately release the outstanding crime statistics, provide the public with a full explanation for the delay, and ensure that a consistent and transparent release schedule is maintained in future.
As part of its broader mandate to protect family farmers, the organisation continues to work together with community policing forums, farm watches and local rural structures to strengthen safety across the country. These efforts, however, can only succeed if the Government provides reliable and timely information.
Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable. They are the foundation of public trust and national stability. Until SAPS consistently releases credible crime information, South Africans and especially those in rural areas will continue to question whether their safety truly matters, Saai concluded.
