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Since the end of apartheid in South Africa in 1994, over 1,750 white Boer farmers have been killed throughout the country. Attacks have also been recorded against the few wealthy black farmers. In most incidences, perpetrators tend to be young black males from poor communities nearby. As a result of these crimes the murder rate for white farmers in the country is as high as 313 per 100,000, among the highest in the world for any given group of people. As a result of these killings many farmers have fled the countryside for the cities where they often settle in gated communities or protected suburban areas, or have fled to other countries. This depopulation has been extensive throughout the country. Of the 85,000 commercial farmers in South Africa in 1994, there remain only 25,000 today. This flight has disrupted the cycle of farming, and years of expertise have been lost to South Africa. Output has dropped 50%, and many farmers are reluctant to leave the house unless well armed.

Many theories have been put forth for the reason for these murders, including race and poverty. It has been suggested that many poor people believe that land belonging to white farmers will be redistributed to blacks if the owners are killed or driven away. Simple jealousy or theft may be a motivation for many attacks.

However, theft and land redistribution do not seem to adequately explain some attacks. In severe cases, these killings and attacks could be called genocide, as many cases of these deaths have seen no damage to or theft of property. There is also evidence that, in some cases, the attackers waited for hours for the victims to return. The age of victims of these murders has ranged from as old as 87 years to young infants. Elderly victims seem to be targeted above others.

Murder is not the only result of the thousands of attacks each year. The threat of damage or loss to property is very high, as is the possibility of being beaten, tortured or raped. There have even been reports that women have been killed as a result of continued gang rape. Statistics tend not to be very clear on the exact crimes committed, although it has been discovered that murder is the result of about one-tenth of all recorded attacks.

It has been suggested that the South African government is failing to take appropriate measures against these attacks. Several publications and media have shown local officials in some areas have taken no action to stop or report crowds chanting violent and racist slogans, such as “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”. Various measures have been taken by the local communities to increase their security, but the killings show no sign of stopping. Many farmers are angered by what they see as the government, media and international community ignoring the attacks.

External links

• News24 articles on farm murders
• Pictures of farm murders
• Documentary on Farm Murders
• International Campaign to Stop South African Genocide
• Report: Racism Plagues Response to Rural Crime
• GenocideWatch.org Report on Boers Slain
• Site dedicated to stopping genocide of Boers
• June 2002 News Story: "White Afrikaner Farmers Under Seige"

• Crime by country