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Farm Murders Continue In South Africa As 9-Year-Old And Family Members Bludgeoned To Death

By Jinger Jarrett
Published on: 06:28 PST, Mar 20, 2016

The number of farm murders in South Africa increased when another four people were bludgeoned to death. The attackers killed a 73-year-old man, his son, his son’s fiancée, and a 9-year-old girl. So far, no arrests have been made in the murders, although police have asked the public to get involved so that the perpetrators can be found and arrests made.

News 24 reported that the investigations were continuing. A police spokesperson said the 73-year-old was visiting from the United Kingdom.

“The 73-year-old male was allegedly visiting South Africa after his family emigrated to the United Kingdom a few years back.”

When the family living in the United Kingdom tried to contact the man, he failed to return their calls. A family friend who lived in the area was asked to check on the man to find out what had happened to him. The family friend found the man’s body on the property and alerted police.

The 46-year -old fiancée was found in a partially-built house on the premises. Police had to deploy K9 units in order to find the 42-year-old man’s body. It was later found in a grove on the property. The only thing taken was the family’s vehicle, a Mercedes SUV, which was later found in Greenhills area, 40 kilometers from Doornfontein.

As previously reported in Inquisitr, police in South Africa have finally declared farm murders to be a priority crime. Farming in South Africa is the most dangerous occupation worldwide. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, over 1,700 farm murders have been committed. Reports have indicated that as many as 3,000 to 4,000 farmers have been murdered, approximately 10 percent of the murders in South Africa. Although the police claim that the murders have not been racially motivated, the farmers who have been murdered are almost always white.

SABC reported that the police have made an appeal on for information on the Randfontein murders since no suspects have been taken into custody. Police spokesperson Appel Ernst said they were asking people from the area to help.

“We asked the people from our area to assist us, and at 15h00 we were able to find the body of the 42 year old male and close the house there were three other bodies.”

ENCA reported that SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) has requested help in solving the farm murders of this family. Sanco National Spokesman Jabu Mahlangu expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

“We extend our condolences to the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives in this outrageous incident and condemn in the strongest terms possible the callous murders.”

Mahlangu criticized the Democratic Alliance (DA), and said that the issues related to crime shouldn’t be used for electioneering purposes. Communities needed to unite if crime were to be reduced and farm murders solved.

“Ignoring the speed at which detectives, police air wing, dog, and diving police units, including forensic investigators and private security companies, were mobilised for the manhunt flies in the face of objective criticism and demoralises the efforts of law enforcement.”

Murder in South Africa has risen for the fifth straight year in a row while farm murders increased last year from the previous year. So far, the ANC led government under President Jacob Zuma has failed to effectively act to stop the farm murders and prevent farm attacks.

[Photo by Wikimedia Commons]

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