Request For Public Condemnation Of Farm Attacks And Engagement On Decentralised Rural Safety

Dear Mr President,

I write on behalf of Lex Libertas following the exceptionally brutal attack on Mr Donovan Marx on a farm between Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp on 28 October 2026.

According to reports, Mr Marx was shot, stabbed and severely mutilated. He is currently fighting for his life. The extreme cruelty of this attack has understandably caused outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of people living and working on South African farms.

Mr President, you have previously spoken out strongly against particularly brutal incidents of violent crime, including the recent killings of women in Ekurhuleni. We believe the victims of farm attacks deserve the same public recognition, compassion and commitment to justice. This is particularly important, given that there is also a political dynamic to farm attacks.

We therefore call on you to publicly and unequivocally condemn the attack on Mr Marx, and to express the government's commitment to combating farm attacks through practical and measurable interventions.

We recognise that violent crime affects communities throughout South Africa. However, the particular circumstances of rural communities, including their geographical isolation and vulnerability to violent attacks, and incitement by political leaders require specific and effective responses.

As part of the White Cross Project, Lex Libertas has recently published a series of proposals for combating farm attacks. Central to our approach is the conviction that sustainable rural safety cannot be achieved through centralised policing alone. Local communities, agricultural organisations and civil society institutions have knowledge, resources and capabilities that should be meaningfully incorporated into crime prevention and emergency response.

We therefore also call on you to prove the South African government’s commitment to addressing this crisis by facilitating engagement between government and relevant civil society organisations regarding a more decentralised approach to combating farm attacks, including greater local responsibility, cooperation and decision-making within an appropriate legal framework.

Such engagement should focus on practical outcomes rather than declarations of intent. Lex Libertas would welcome the opportunity to participate in these discussions and to present our proposals.

We trust that you will give these requests your serious consideration and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Ernst Roets Executive Director Lex Libertas