Security on farms begins long before an attack takes place, and farmers and farm residents should not wait until a crisis occurs before they review their security measures. This is the core of a three-part project by Mike Bolhuis of Specialised Security Services (SSS), in which he examines the seriousness of farm attacks, prevention and what must be done during and after an attack.
Bolhuis points out that no single security measure can guarantee that a farm will never be attacked. According to him, every property's specific vulnerabilities must be identified, including access points, gates, blind spots, routines and how quickly help can reach the property. He also warns against sharing sensitive information on social media, such as when a house is empty, when family is away, where valuable equipment is kept, when livestock is moved and details about weapons and security systems.
Unknown visitors, contractors and job seekers must be properly verified before access is granted, while employees should be encouraged to report suspicious vehicles, persons or activities without confronting suspects themselves. Bolhuis further emphasises that farmers must know their security network with the police, community policing forums, neighbours, private security companies and emergency services, and must regularly test communication channels.
If an attack takes place, human life must be placed first according to SSS. Victims should, where it is safe to do so, activate the alarm and contact the police and other emergency services with a precise location, farm name, nearest road, gate or entrance and GPS coordinates if available. Victims should not unnecessarily confront armed suspects or chase fleeing suspects.
After the immediate danger has passed, the crime scene and possible evidence must be protected. CCTV footage, alarm, telephone and access records and other digital evidence must be preserved and nothing at the scene should be unnecessarily moved or cleaned. Witnesses should also write down their own memories as soon as possible, including descriptions of suspects, vehicles, weapons, direction of flight and times.
SSS further warns that communities should not start their own investigation on social media after a farm attack. Photos, names, registration numbers and claims about suspected perpetrators should not be shared without verification, as an innocent person could be wrongly identified and an investigation could be compromised.
Bolhuis's three-part message is that security must be an ongoing process: identify vulnerabilities, control access, protect sensitive information, maintain communication, know who to contact and be prepared before an attack takes place. SSS has also referred to the Flemming sisters, Hester and Cecilia Johanna, who went missing after a farm attack in October 2024 and were later found dead in an open-pit mine near Eikenhof.
Click on the following links to read more: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
