Please find attached soundbite in English and Afrikaans by Prof Theo Venter.
- The DA condemns the brutal attack on Donovan Marx at his farm between Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom, which left him seriously injured.
- The attack highlights the urgent need for stronger rural policing, improved crime intelligence and coordinated emergency response.
- The DA calls for stronger rural safety measures and urges SAPS to bring those responsible to justice.
The Democratic Alliance strongly condemns the brutal attack on Mr Donovan Marx at his farm between Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom, which reportedly left him with a gunshot wound and several other serious injuries.
Mr Marx is currently receiving treatment at Mediclinic in Potchefstroom. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family, friends and the Ventersdorp community, where he is well known, and wish him a full and speedy recovery.
This horrific attack once again highlights the serious safety challenges facing rural communities. Farm attacks, stock theft and other rural crimes threaten the lives and livelihoods of farmers, farmworkers and their families, while undermining agricultural activity and the jobs it sustains.
The DA commends the swift response of rural safety structures and emergency services. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of cooperation between communities and law enforcement in protecting residents across the extensive rural areas of JB Marks Local Municipality.
We call on SAPS to prioritise the investigation and bring those responsible to justice. Rural communities deserve effective policing and the peace of mind that comes with knowing their safety is taken seriously.
The DA will write to the Chairperson of the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management (COSATMA), requesting an urgent briefing from SAPS on its response to farm attacks across the province, including preventative measures, investigations and arrests.
Rural communities deserve more than assurances. They deserve effective policing, accountability and the peace of mind that comes with knowing their safety is taken seriously.