Three farm murders took place last week, Agri SA said on Wednesday.

"There have been more than 10 700 farm attacks since 1991 in which more than 1600 members of the farming community, including farm workers, were murdered," said Agri SA Law and Order Committee chairperson Andre Botha.

He said in the last week Johan Myburgh of Groblersdal and At and Katrien Deyzel of Lichtenburg were murdered.

"One gets the impression that agriculture and its people are of no importance to politicians."

"However, agriculture is one of the cornerstones of the economy as well as one of the main employers in the country...

"Commercial farmers merely want an opportunity to practise their profession in safety and to contribute towards ensuring that there is enough food on the table for South Africa's people."

Farmers and the agricultural industry should be protected as a "national asset".

Botha said Agri SA had been trying unsuccessfully for over a year to secure a meeting with the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula to discuss farm and rural safety.

The organisation now intended providing president Thabo Mbeki with a memorandum about rural safety at the next presidential commercial agriculture working group meeting which will take place in about three weeks.

"We really want to be a part of this country," said Botha.

"If they want to experience ubuntu you must come out to the platteland."

He said it was only a "very small minority" of farmers who had negative relations with farmworkers.

"The majority of relations between farmers and workers are excellent."

Botha said farmers had heeded the call to fight crime.

Agri SA and its members were involved in various anti-crime initiatives and becoming police reservists.

"We are not saying just give us. We take responsibility. We are there as responsible citizen to take our part but we need some assistance from somewhere."

"When there is a spate of taxi murders every two-bit politician makes comments, but when there is a farm attack, there is no real comment, no one denounces the actions".

Botha said the direct cost of crime for agriculture was estimated at more than R1-billion.

Sapa

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