The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police to request that the committee urgently investigate the status and effectiveness of SAPS’ current reservist policy, as well as the urgent establishment of sufficient Rural Safety Units in all parts of the country where it is lacking. This request follows the murder of Mr Hendrik Venter, an 81-year-old farmer from Kuruman, who was found on Friday with three head wounds to his head. Mr. Venter was on his way to pay wages to workers on his farm when he was ambushed at a gate on a farm road where his body was later found by his neighbour.
In its efforts to arrest the suspects, SAPS worked closely with farm security organisations, the Kuruman Neighbourhood Watch, as well as a well-known Mine in the area. Following the murder, the police immediately implemented a 72-hour action plan. In a coordinated effort involving the K9 unit, visible policing, highway patrols, crime intelligence, the local criminal records centre as well as the cooperation of the above-mentioned civic organisations, several suspects were arrested. The Democratic Alliance wants to thank SAPS and all the private and civic organisations and individuals who assisted with the successful arrests of the suspects.
These gallant efforts again illustrate the importance of the urgent establishment of well-functioning Rural Safety Units with dedicated detective support within SAPS throughout the country and not only in specific areas. It is furthermore important that Stock Theft Units that continue to lack sufficient capacity, be capacitated with experienced personnel as well as equipment. Reservists are critical in stabilizing vast rural areas, where permanent police members and equipment such as vehicles are often spread too thin. They can play a vital role in bridging the gaps and providing more security for rural communities. All of these actions are required to not only react to crimes in rural areas after it was committed, but also to pro-actively assist in preventing these heinous crimes from taking place.
In 2011/12, there were 52,054 SAPS reservists across the country, but by 2021/22, that number had dropped to just 4,393. By November 2023, it had fallen even further to only 3,502. This drastic decline, including a 63% drop in one financial year has left a dangerous vacuum in rural policing that must be addressed urgently.
The Democratic Alliance will make sure that we monitor all investigations of this nature. We will furthermore, as in the past with similar attacks, arrange a “watching brief” for the court appearances of these suspects.