Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has strongly dismissed allegations of in South Africa while presenting the latest quarterly crime statistics. The minister’s remarks come after recent claims, amplified internationally—including by figures in the U.S. White House—that white South Africans are being systematically targeted in farm attacks and land grabs.

Minister Mchunu revealed that most crime categories saw a decline in the fourth quarter (January–March 2024) compared to the same period last year. However, sexual offenses, rape, and commercial crimes showed concerning increases.

Key points from the report:

Mchunu addressed the claims head-on, calling them “totally unfounded and unsubstantiated.” He specifically referenced viral social media images of crosses along a road in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, which were misrepresented as evidence of mass killings.

“The crosses symbolize historical farm killings, not graves,” Mchunu clarified, explaining that the site stemmed from a 2020 protest following the murder of a farming couple. Three suspects were arrested and jailed for that crime.

The minister provided a breakdown of farm-related murders in the last quarter:

This is according to stats collected from January-March by the The Rome Research Institute of South Africa:

January 2025 – 23 Farm attacks and 2 farm murders.
February 2025 – 16 Farm attacks and 0 farm murders.
March 2025 – 15 Farm attacks and 2 farm murders.

Stats of The Rome Research Institute of South Africa

Mchunu emphasized that while farm attacks are a serious concern, the narrative that only white farmers are targeted is false. “The history of farm murders has always included African victims in greater numbers, but reporting has been unbalanced,” he said.

The minister also rejected claims of widespread “land grabbing,” distinguishing it from sporadic illegal land invasions driven by desperation. He stressed that the government’s land reform policies, including expropriation without compensation, aim to address historical disparities lawfully.

Mchunu defended South Africa’s justice system, citing cases like the arrest of suspects in the kidnapping of an American pastor in Nelson Mandela Bay. “Every reported crime is recorded and investigated,” he stated, acknowledging public frustration but insisting progress is being made.

The full annual crime statistics will be released in September. Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) says it is intensifying efforts against priority crimes, including gender-based violence, organized crime, and gang violence.

The minister’s presentation sought to balance transparency about crime challenges while countering misinformation. As debates over safety and racial tensions continue, the government insists it is addressing crime “scientifically, not emotionally.”

---

Interestingly after the Donald Trump meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa, the SAPS is suddenly changing their stats, a request long ignored. People wanted to have farm murder stats but it was always rejected and not shown.

The Police Minister indicated that the current crime statistics focus solely on commercial farms but announced plans to expand reporting. Future reports will include additional crime categories——to provide a more comprehensive picture of crime in the country. This adjustment aims to address the limited scope of the present data.