Statistically, the picture is far from clear or complete: the political and racial sensitivities that swirl around farm attacks in South Africa appear just as likely to blind the scientists. Vuvu Vena canvassed a range of organizations struggling to make sense of the deadly phenomenon.

The targets Farm owners, farm workers, labour tenants, and their families “Everyone is reluctant to break down [surveys into farm attacks] into race. Currently these attacks include everyone in the farming community — farm workers, farmers and their families. There are only two indicators — farm attacks and farm murders. It includes everyone.” — Kerwin Lebone, researcher, Institute for Race Relations

“What we’re seeing is violent conflict in isolated places among people who know one another, live in close proximity, but ultimately in different worlds.” — Ruth Hall, senior researcher, Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies

“In many ways the term ‘farm attacks’ is… Continue reading →