Agri SA and the SAPS met on Thursday to discuss rural safety, Agri SA rural safety policy committee chairperson, Kobus Breytenbach, said in a statement.

The meeting “was the cornerstone for discussing practical suggestions on how to progress with various strategies to deal with crime issues and to ensure continuous collaboration and co-operation”.

The farming community had to be protected to ensure food security. The rural safety strategy would be supported by sector policing and reservists, Breytenbach said.

Agri SA had urged police management to “enhance the roll-out of the reservist system in all provinces as this is an important force multiplier together with farm watches to stabilise rural farming areas”.

During the meeting, Agri SA had raised concerns with the SAPS, particularly about resources made available to public order police units.

“Stock theft and the impact it has on livestock farmers was [also] discussed and Agri SA recommended to police that all vacant positions in stock theft units should be filled with competent members as soon as possible. The strict application of the Stock Theft Act is necessary and police management was requested to shorten the turnaround time of vehicles which are to be repaired and serviced,” said Breytenbach.

Agri SA would host a strategic session at the end of June to draft practical guidelines which would be presented to the organisation’s congress in October, he said.

ANA