This comes after the Warden District Farmers Association, after numerous attempts, managed to secure a meeting with high-ranking police officers in an effort to address problems regarding the police’s poor service delivery.

Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Moeketsi Sempe, says the police’s visibility on farms, personnel shortages and the implementation of a rural safety initiative whereby a rural safety coordinator had to be appointed, were among the issues discussed at the meeting in Warden. Sempe says members of the farmer’s association were satisfied with the police’s response and plan to ensure visibility on farms.

He said it is not possible for police to be on each and every farm daily. He, however, undertook that police patrols will be conducted in the area twice weekly. There will be joint operations between police and farmers to implement the rural safety strategy, such as the Blue and White patrol operation to enhance visibility on farms. The farmers' biggest concerns are that they stay far away from town in secluded areas. Their safety and the safety of their workers and livestock is jeopardised.

Chairperson of the Warden agricultural farmers association, Hendri Jansen van Rensburg, told OFM News earlier that they are satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and look forward to working closely with police to curb crime and ensure the safety of the farming community.

He says the N3 Highway from Johannesburg to Durban, which is adjacent to Warden, poses a problem with criminals who engage in petty to more serious crimes. He says on average 6 000 vehicles travel on the highway past Warden daily, while about 1 000 trucks overnight there. Stock theft has been a major concern and syndicates target the area.

In response to this concern, Sempe gave his reassurance to farmers that police vehicles would be deployed on the N3 to parole the busy route up to Van Rheenen’s Pass.

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