An attack every two weeks – that is the frightening reality for farmers in the Eastern Cape. And those in the Sundays River Valley and Nelson Mandela Bay area have the most to fear, with the majority of recent incidents occurring in these two areas.
There have been at least 96 attacks and 26 other crime-related incidents on farms in the province from March 31 2016 to date. Of these, 48 occurred between March 31 2018 and April 1 2019. A further nine farm attacks were reported since then. In total, four people have been killed, 35 injured and one person raped since March 31 2018.
In June, Sebenzile Simane, 32, a former seasonal farm worker in Hankey, was sentenced to 173 years in prison for an attack on a family in 2018.
During the harrowing fourhour ordeal, Simane shot the woman and raped her twice, forcing her then 12-year-old daughter to watch the assault after first also trying to rape her.
Agri Eastern Cape rural safety chair Alfonso
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