2000-book-farm-attacks-2eedb19ae95138b0.pdf

This report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the 'rural protection plan' implemented in South Africa in 1997 to combat violent attacks on farms and smallholdings. Based on statistics from 1997 to 1999 and fieldwork in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, the report analyzes the motives behind these crimes, the effectiveness of security structures like the commando system, and the impact of socio-economic factors such as land hunger and poor labour relations.

• Between January 1997 and December 1999, South Africa experienced a substantial increase in attacks on farms and smallholdings, with 2,030 separate attacks resulting in approximately 361 murders.
• The incidence of attacks and murders was not uniform across the country; in 1999, the highest number of attacks occurred in Gauteng (224), Mpumalanga (169), and KwaZulu-Natal (141).
• The primary motive for the vast majority of attacks is common criminality, specifically the theft of firearms, cash, and vehicles, rather than ideological or political reasons.
• The rural protection plan's effectiveness varies by region and depends heavily on civilian participation, as security forces lack rapid response capabilities in remote rural areas.
• A critical weakness in the state's response is the lack of intelligence gathering capabilities, particularly within rural informal settlements and squatter camps where attacks are often planned.
• In the Piet Retief area, the 'security cell system'—utilizing radios, alarms, and panic buttons—is the most effective component of the rural protection plan for apprehending suspects.
• In the Greytown district, a centralized '911 centre' coordinating SANDF resources, police, and civilian cells has contributed to a decline in stock theft and farm attacks.
• In the Wierdabrug area, smallholding attacks often follow a pattern of 'escalating victimisation,' starting with minor thefts before progressing to serious armed robberies.
• Many attacks involve a regional dimension, where perpetrators who have local knowledge but live in metropolitan centers (like the East Rand in Gauteng) recruit locals to assist in crimes.
• Poor labour relations, including disputes over land tenancy and mass evictions, have created a volatile environment in areas like Piet Retief, though their direct link to farm attacks is less clear than common criminality.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). 2000-book-farm-attacks-2eedb19ae95138b0.pdf. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2000-book-farm-attacks.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. 2000-book-farm-attacks-2eedb19ae95138b0.pdf. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2000-book-farm-attacks.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=2000-book-farm-attacks-2eedb19ae95138b0.pdf |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2000-book-farm-attacks.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesnd2000bookfarmattacks2eedb19ae95138b0pdf, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{2000-book-farm-attacks-2eedb19ae95138b0.pdf}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2000-book-farm-attacks.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }