This, as members of the public and DA supporters in the province, embarked on a safety march in Bloemfontein. 

The group, led by Provincial Leader, Patricia Kopane, and Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Annette Steyn, marched to the office of the Provincial Police Commissioner to hand over a memorandum of demands over these concerns.

The party alleges that not much is being done to ensure the safety of people in rural areas and that their calls over a lack of security measures by members of the South African Police Services seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Steyn told OFM News that they are calling to the police to ensure that rural crime units are put in place, police vehicles and resources are used effectively, and that issues faced in farms and rural areas are addressed urgently. 

Steyn says following their submission of the memorandum of demands they are expecting the police to at least pull up their socks and address issues over a lack of SAPS members’ training, the provision of resources in all areas, and to improve the state of police stations in all geographically remote areas.

According to the latest South African crime stats, a total of 20,336 murders were recorded over 2017/18. Of this number, 62 were victims on farms and smallholdings. The report indicates that the North West province recorded the second-highest number of attacks‚ following Gauteng.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela and Lucky Nkuyane