South Africa’s Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp has called for attacks targeting farmers and farm workers to be declared priority crimes, arguing that the move could strengthen law enforcement and improve safety across rural communities.

Aucamp made the call in response to a parliamentary question from National Assembly member Désirée Van Der Walt, following his September 2 proposal for farm attacks to receive priority-crime status.

The minister said such a designation would allow additional and dedicated law-enforcement resources to be directed towards the problem.

He said it would also strengthen crime prevention efforts and improve coordination between authorities responding to incidents in rural areas.

For South Africa’s agricultural sector, rural security is closely linked to the ability of farmers and workers to operate farms safely and maintain production.

Aucamp said the Department of Agriculture continues to engage with the South African Police Service on crimes affecting the agricultural sector.

One of the key mechanisms is the Rapid Response on Rural Safety Strategy, which is intended to improve information sharing, monitor crime trends and develop targeted responses to security challenges in rural communities.

The department is also advocating closer cooperation between government departments, law enforcement agencies, organised agriculture and other rural stakeholders.

Statistics provided by Aucamp show that farm attacks remain a concern despite a decline in reported incidents during 2025.

There were 25 recorded farm attacks in September 2025, the highest monthly figure cited by the minister. Farm murders declined from 37 in 2024 to 29 in 2025.

However, Aucamp cautioned that the available statistics do not capture all of the factors surrounding rural crime.

The debate over how best to improve farm security has also involved private-sector and community-based initiatives, with organisations involved in rural safety calling for stronger cooperation with government and the police.

The issue has attracted international attention as well. United States Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III has also called for rural crime to receive priority attention, arguing that existing plans should be properly resourced.

For agriculture, the issue extends beyond personal safety.

Farming depends on people being able to reach farms, manage livestock, maintain infrastructure and move agricultural products safely. Persistent insecurity can increase operating costs and place additional pressure on farming communities already dealing with rising input costs, weather risks and market uncertainty.

It can also affect workers and their families in rural areas where agricultural activity is a major source of employment.

The South African government’s challenge will therefore be to translate rural safety strategies into effective protection on the ground.

Aucamp’s call for priority-crime status is part of a wider discussion about how law enforcement, government and agricultural organisations can coordinate their response to crime affecting farming communities.

For the country’s agricultural sector, the objective is straightforward: safer rural areas where farmers and farm workers can continue producing food without security concerns becoming another barrier to agricultural growth.