Tensions in South Africa Rise as Deadly Attacks on Farmers Increase

White farmers in South Africa have urged others to protest against the violence happening in their community. According to AfriForum, a non-governmental organization registered as a non-profit company, with the aim of protecting the rights of minorities, at least 341 farm attacks have already been carried out, in which 70 people were killed since January 1st.

Farmer attacked in South Africa. Unknown Photographer

While some believe the biggest motive for these violent attacks is robbery, others believe they’re racially motivated.

Lara Müller, a resident in the Western Cape, wants people to know the situation in her country. She wrote the following to help raise awareness:

“So I am writing this post from South Africa, the country with the most beautiful nature I know of. I am a high school learner in a really small town that’s asking the world to help South Africa. People here are living in fear, waiting to be the next one getting raped , killed, and by kill I mean for instance cutting off your fingers , then arms and so it goes on until you bleed yourself to death. Lately there has been A LOT of farmer attacks, and why I am concern about this is because we are not going to receive food if you kill the farmers. So many people are killed and raped and NOTHING is done to help us 😞 It’s so bad , that South Africa had a black monday on 30 October 2017. The people whore black to show respect to those who lost their lives unfairly. In almost every town the people went to block the main roads to show and try and get some attention from the world out there, but its the next day and well, just from this morning until now, already two farmers are killed, and that’s JUST FARMERS !”

To help express how Lara is feeling, she wrote this poem:

“I cant make people help us, but by writing this poem I threw my heart out so that the world can see, we South Africa need the world to help us from getting killed,” she added.

For anyone visiting South Africa, Müller provided this link for tourists to check in order to find out stats about crime in the areas they’d like to travel in.

Cape Town Photo by: Heather Newgen

For more information on what’s happening with the protest in South Africa, read this piece on BBC News.