About 100 police and farmers from three clusters around Bloemfontein participated in the interactive event, jointly organised by the SAPS and the VKB/Free State Agriculture Safety Desk.

Police and farmers engaged on a face-to-face basis during breakaway group discussions focused on building trust, among other things. Mangaung Cluster Commander, Solly Lesia, says, for example, it is important for all roleplayers to adhere to protocols.

“How police should approach farms, what police must do before they go to a farm - the implementation of this rural safety protocol will bring back the trust relation between the farmers and the community.”

Commenting on language and communication barriers, he urged farmers to be patient and communicate politely. Farmers were also urged to refrain from employing unidentified, illegal foreign migrants.

“That also came out at the summit. It will be very helpful if farmers know who they are employing. If they have profiles of the people they are employing, know the background of people they are employing.

“Cooperation between the farmer and his employees. If they trust each other and know each other it will work well.”

Free State Agriculture’s Tommie Esterhuyse says the event has been very positive, particularly in as far as proactive policing is concerned.

“The survey that was done here indicates we are making good progress with the implementation of the rural safety plan.

“For example, 89% of the rehearsals are regularly held in this cluster. Both police and farmers are satisfied with this.”

He says good relations are critical to ensure safety on farms.

“From April to date, now in September, 12 farm attacks have been prevented. They were prevented thanks to good cooperation, information sharing, information that is correctly channelled from the Safety Desk to the respective police branches, for example, crime intelligence and visible policing.”  

Plans are to host another two such summits in other parts of the province before the end of the year.

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