Farm attacks are a serious issue in South Africa at the moment, as farms the nation over are being infiltrated and their residents attacked in military-style raids. According to this report, 345 farm attacks were carried out in 2016 and a total of 70 people were murdered in their farm houses. Farms are being sold by their thousands, and farmers are packing up what belongings they have left and leaving the country at a rate of knots. For those brave enough to stand their ground and protect their land, Wonderbars looks at how to prevent farm attacks in South Africa.
Securing the Perimeter of your Farm
The first step to preventing farm attacks is to secure the entire perimeter of your farmland. Check your fences for holes or breaks where criminals could easily enter, and consider placing warning signs that inform potential intruders that you are prepared for an attempted farm attack. Clear bushes and shrubbery on either side of your farm roads as these are perfect hiding places for criminals hoping to ambush you. Ensure that your gates leading to the various parts of your property are kept locked with chains and solid padlocks. Most farm attacks are carried out with the use of vehicles, so preventing easy access to your property by vehicle will aid your attack prevention efforts substantially. Consider inspecting your farm workers’ living quarters for weapons, as many farm attacks are either carried out or instigated by disgruntled farm workers.
Securing your Farm House
Step two in preventing farm attacks in South Africa is to secure your living quarters. Ensure that you have a high fence around your house (this is better than a wall for visibility purposes) and that you have more than a few guard dogs on the property. Place high-potency security lights on all four sides of your house, and consider installing an alarm system that allows you to place motion sensors around your property. Most importantly, ensure that ALL of your windows have burglar bars on them – even on windows you might think are too small for someone to climb through. Equally important is to install sturdy trellis gates on all entrances, including one trellis gate that separates your bedrooms from the rest of your home. Consider restricting your night time activities to the bedrooms, as most farm attacks occur between 8pm and 3am.
Personal Security on your Farm
Once you’ve secured your farmland and your farmhouse itself, the next step in preventing farm attacks is to invest in personal security. Test your alarm system, sirens, panic buttons and phones regularly – at least once a week – and be sure to keep an ICE (In Case of Emergency) number saved on your cell phone. This person should be someone living off of the property that will be able to respond swiftly should you be in trouble and need assistance. Another personal security measure is to regularly visit your local police station and get to know the policemen. Attend police forum meetings if you can for a better understanding of what they are doing to prevent farm attacks in your area. If you do not already have one operating in your area, consider starting a community farm watch, where farmers take turns performing night patrols to neighbouring farms. Finally, consider self-defence training for you and your family. We do not recommend taking on a group of angry weapon-wielding criminals, but self-defence classes can train you to remain calm and think clearly and logically when you find yourself in a farm attack situation.
We understand the fear many South African farmers live with on a daily basis, and our security products have brought peace of mind to many citizens of this beautiful country for many years. Let Wonderbars assist you with securing your farmhouse for the best chance at preventing a farm attack today.
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