KwaZulu-Natal couple gunned down in farm attack

The farming community is up in arms over yet another thoughtless attack which has ended in bloodshed –  this time Glen and Vida Rafferty, a couple from KwaZulu-Natal, were shot dead on their farm in Normadien, near Newcastle on Saturday, 29 August 2020.

The perpetrators are believed to have fled the scene in the couple’s vehicle, which was later recovered.

No arrests have been made yet.

The couple’s nephew Roland Collyer told the SABC that the community has been left reeling following the incident.

Collyer has also said it did not appear to be a robbery as the only item that was stolen was the camera system which recorded the entire attack. He said valuables including money as well as keys to a safe were all found at the scene and other items were still intact.

Collyer has described the killing as senseless and has also called for justice.

“Everybody is shocked at the moment. We’ve got a very close-knit community. When there are problems and issues, the community stands together very well and it’s just so senseless that one couldn’t do more for the couple…it’s really shook the community very badly”, he further said to the public broadcaster.

When asked if his aunt and uncle had received any threats, prior to their murders, Collyer said they had not and added that they were peaceful individuals who cared for their community.

DA: ‘Farm attacks must be declared hate crimes’

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KZN is calling for swift action and intends writing to premier Sihle Zikalala, regarding recommendations on curbing farm attacks.

“Certainly, rural safety is one of these issues and our communities are increasingly being forced to take their safety into their own hands. This, while ANC leaders fight over Covid-19 tenders and jostle for power in an organisation that has repeatedly admitted that South Africans are not their priority”, said the party’s Chris Pappas.

Pappas said it was critical that Parliament used its platform to highlight the dangers of living and working in our rural communities. He said the party would demand that the provincial government look at rural and farm safety more seriously.

“Despite the ANC’s uncaring stance on the matter, the DA has recently secured a victory in the National Assembly, where a Debate of National Importance on the scourge of farm attacks and murders across the nation will be held on Tuesday. This after ongoing pressure from our national DA counterparts and after a shocking rise in the number of reported incidents this year, which have particularly brutal in nature”