“Since the Human Rights Commission began its investigation into farm murders, several more farmers have been killed – the latest being the 72 year old Willie van Rensburg of Odendaalsrus. We call on the
commission to urgently finalise its report, so that the government will have no further excuse but to declare this kind of crime a priority crime,” say Rev. Botha, leader of the Christian Democratic Party (CDP).

“According to information this was the eighth farm murder in the Free State alone since the beginning of the year. This insanity must stop and instead of the government threatening our farmers with the
expropriation of their land, they should do their duty and protect those that are responsible for feeding the nation.

“We have taken note of the fact that great effort has been made to apprehend the murderers of the slain Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa, and of course we support all these efforts. But at the same time, we also
believe that should farm murders not receive the same consideration, such as sizeable rewards, for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators, farm murders will continue unabated.”

Afrikaans Version

Opskud met plaasmoord-verslag – CDP

“Sedert die Menseregtekommissie met sy ondersoek na plaasmoorde begin het, is verskeie boere vermoor waarvan die mees onlangse geval die moord op die 72-jarige Willie van Rensburg van Odendaalsrus was. Ons doen ‘n beroep op die kommissie om op te skud met sy verslag sodat die regering nie meer verskonings het om plaasmoorde tot prioriteitsmisdaad te verklaar nie,” sê ds. Theunis Botha, leier van die Christen-Demokratiese Party (CDP).

“Volgens beskikbare inligting was hierdie die agste plaasmoord vanjaar in die Vrystaat. Hierdie euwel moet end kry, en in plaas daarvan dat die regering die boere dreig met onteiening, moet hy sy plig doen en diegene wat die land voed beskerm.

“Ons verstaan dat baie ingesit word om die moordenaars van die Bafana-kaptein, Senzo Meyiwa, aan te keer, en ons ondersteun dit ook. Maar ons glo ook dat as plaasmoorde nie dieselfde aandag kry nie, soos die uitloof van beduidende belonings nie, sal plaasmoorde onophoudelik voortduur.”