CMY3706 – STUDY UNIT 5
RURAL CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA
ATTACKS AND MURDERS ON FARMS AND STOCK THEFT
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES
You should be able to:
1. Define and interpret:
o rural crime
o attacks and murders on farms
o stock theft
2. Discuss the occurrence of farm attacks and stock theft in South Africa.
3. Identify characteristics of perpetrators.
4. Differentiate between the modus operandi of:
o farm attackers; and
o stock theft perpetrators.
5. Discuss the motives and causes of:
o farm attacks; and
o stock theft.
6. Discuss recommendations for combating these crimes.
2. INTRODUCTION TO RURAL CRIME
Rural crime has historically received less attention from criminologists and the criminal justice system
than urban crime.
One reason is that rural areas have sometimes been viewed as:
• peaceful;
• idyllic;
• having relatively low crime rates compared with cities.
However, rural communities experience various forms of crime.
,Examples include:
• agricultural crime;
• environmental crime;
• violent crime;
• corruption.
This unit concentrates on:
1. Attacks and murders on farms and smallholdings
2. Stock/livestock theft
3. WHAT IS A RURAL AREA?
The National Rural Safety Strategy identifies several characteristics that may indicate a rural area.
An area may be rural when it:
• is not urbanised;
• consists mainly of agricultural land;
• has a population of fewer than 150 000;
• lacks substantial infrastructure;
• consists of settlements/villages dependent on migratory labour and remittances.
In South Africa, rural communities are generally associated with areas outside urban or peri-urban
communities and with a country lifestyle based on agricultural activities.
4. WHAT MAKES RURAL CRIME DIFFERENT?
VERY IMPORTANT EXAM POINT
Rural crime is not necessarily different because the crimes themselves are completely different.
The important distinction is the:
Impact of the crimes on the rural community.
Farming communities can experience many of the same crimes as urban communities.
However, rural crime can have a direct effect on:
• farming livelihoods;
, • agricultural production;
• food security;
• food safety;
• the agricultural economy.
MEMORY AID
RURAL DIFFERENCE = IMPACT
5. FARM ATTACKS
Definition
A farm attack is a broad concept referring to actions intended to cause:
• material damage; and/or
• physical injury
to:
• owners;
• occupiers;
• dependants;
• workers;
• property;
• possessions
on farms or smallholdings.
Important:
"Farm attack" is NOT a specific crime category in South African statutory or common law.
It refers to a number of different crimes occurring on farms or smallholdings.
These can include:
• assault;
• robbery;
• rape;
RURAL CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA
ATTACKS AND MURDERS ON FARMS AND STOCK THEFT
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES
You should be able to:
1. Define and interpret:
o rural crime
o attacks and murders on farms
o stock theft
2. Discuss the occurrence of farm attacks and stock theft in South Africa.
3. Identify characteristics of perpetrators.
4. Differentiate between the modus operandi of:
o farm attackers; and
o stock theft perpetrators.
5. Discuss the motives and causes of:
o farm attacks; and
o stock theft.
6. Discuss recommendations for combating these crimes.
2. INTRODUCTION TO RURAL CRIME
Rural crime has historically received less attention from criminologists and the criminal justice system
than urban crime.
One reason is that rural areas have sometimes been viewed as:
• peaceful;
• idyllic;
• having relatively low crime rates compared with cities.
However, rural communities experience various forms of crime.
,Examples include:
• agricultural crime;
• environmental crime;
• violent crime;
• corruption.
This unit concentrates on:
1. Attacks and murders on farms and smallholdings
2. Stock/livestock theft
3. WHAT IS A RURAL AREA?
The National Rural Safety Strategy identifies several characteristics that may indicate a rural area.
An area may be rural when it:
• is not urbanised;
• consists mainly of agricultural land;
• has a population of fewer than 150 000;
• lacks substantial infrastructure;
• consists of settlements/villages dependent on migratory labour and remittances.
In South Africa, rural communities are generally associated with areas outside urban or peri-urban
communities and with a country lifestyle based on agricultural activities.
4. WHAT MAKES RURAL CRIME DIFFERENT?
VERY IMPORTANT EXAM POINT
Rural crime is not necessarily different because the crimes themselves are completely different.
The important distinction is the:
Impact of the crimes on the rural community.
Farming communities can experience many of the same crimes as urban communities.
However, rural crime can have a direct effect on:
• farming livelihoods;
, • agricultural production;
• food security;
• food safety;
• the agricultural economy.
MEMORY AID
RURAL DIFFERENCE = IMPACT
5. FARM ATTACKS
Definition
A farm attack is a broad concept referring to actions intended to cause:
• material damage; and/or
• physical injury
to:
• owners;
• occupiers;
• dependants;
• workers;
• property;
• possessions
on farms or smallholdings.
Important:
"Farm attack" is NOT a specific crime category in South African statutory or common law.
It refers to a number of different crimes occurring on farms or smallholdings.
These can include:
• assault;
• robbery;
• rape;
