Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, has challenged AfriForum to provide concrete evidence supporting their claim that the latest national crime statistics inaccurately reflect the number of white farmers murdered in South Africa.
Mchunu released the third quarter crime statistics for 2024/2025 on February 21, reporting a significant reduction in crime. However, AfriForum, a civil rights group, has questioned the accuracy of these figures, specifically regarding farm murders, citing concerns over flawed record-keeping by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
AfriForum Questions the Accuracy of Crime Data
AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety, Jacques Broodryk, expressed skepticism about the official crime statistics, stating that their Neighbourhood and Farm Watches, which monitor crime at the grassroots level, had not observed any significant decrease in crime during the reporting period.
“We have our own monitoring structures in place, and the numbers being presented do not match the reality on the ground,” Broodryk said.
He argued that SAPS data has historically been flawed due to poor record-keeping, casting doubt on the accuracy of the government’s latest crime report.
Mchunu Demands Evidence from AfriForum
In response to AfriForum’s concerns, Mchunu urged the organization to present factual evidence rather than making unsubstantiated claims.
“One of the comments came from AfriForum as they were preparing for their trip to America. They claim to dispute the released quarterly crime statistics, stating that a total of five farm owners had been murdered during this period,” Mchunu stated.
The Minister challenged AfriForum to provide documented proof of their allegations once they return from their trip to the United States.
“We challenge AfriForum, as soon as they land back in South Africa, to provide us with evidence of their mentioned incidents, which they claim are well-documented,” he added.
Mchunu also dismissed the idea that farm murders disproportionately affect white farmers, arguing that crime statistics are often misrepresented to create a false perception of widespread attacks on white landowners.
“We want to take this opportunity to reiterate that our statistics show that one farmer, who happens to be white, was murdered in the third quarter in South Africa. Anybody who disputes this is welcome to put facts on the table for the purposes of correct records,” he stated.
AfriForum Defends Its U.S. Visit
Amid the debate over crime statistics, AfriForum’s CEO, Kallie Kriel, has defended the group’s visit to the United States, where they met with representatives of the Donald Trump administration.
Kriel stated that the trip was motivated by frustration over the South African government’s failure to address their concerns.
“We have exhausted all avenues locally, but the government refuses to engage with us meaningfully,” he said.
According to Kriel, the ANC government, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has fueled division in the country through controversial policies, including the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act and land expropriation without compensation.
The BELA Act, which aims to reform the education system, has faced criticism for undermining Afrikaans-language schools and centralizing power in the hands of the national government. Similarly, land expropriation without compensation remains a highly contentious issue, with critics arguing that it threatens property rights and economic stability.
“The ANC’s policies have created unnecessary racial divisions, and we will continue to seek international support to expose these injustices,” Kriel stated.
Tensions Between Government and AfriForum Continue
The ongoing dispute between AfriForum and the South African government highlights deepening tensions over crime statistics, land reform, and racial divisions in the country.
While Mchunu insists that official crime data is accurate, AfriForum argues that the statistics downplay farm murders and fail to reflect the true state of rural crime.
With AfriForum’s continued lobbying on the international stage, the debate over farm security, land policies, and crime reporting is unlikely to subside anytime soon. For now, all eyes are on whether AfriForum will provide the evidence Mchunu has demanded or if this dispute will escalate further.