The Documentary Podcast Living in fear on South Africa's farms
Dec 20, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Claire Mawisa, a BBC Africa Eye reporter, delves deep into farm crime in South Africa. She shares startling statistics on farm murders, emphasizing that urban violence mainly impacts Black individuals. Claire also examines the lingering legacy of apartheid, revealing that 72% of farmland remains white-owned decades after democracy. Personal stories, like that of a farmer applying for asylum in the U.S. due to fears of targeted attacks, highlight the complex realities facing both white and Black farmers amid widespread insecurity.
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Farm Murders Are A Small Share
- Farm murders are rare compared with overall national murder rates, with 18 farm murders recorded Oct–Mar and most victims being Black.
- Claire Mawisa emphasizes that most violent crime occurs in urban areas, not predominantly on farms.
Land Ownership Explains Farmer Demographics
- Historical apartheid left 72% of farmland white-owned, so most farmers today are white by ownership, not population share.
- That concentration explains why farm incidents often involve white owners even if crime affects all communities.
A Farmer Preparing To Leave
- Martinez, born and raised in South Africa, applied for US refugee status fearing for his family's life after generational farm murders.
- He described investing heavily in security and feeling an attack was inevitable rather than just opportunistic crime.