Anxiety is such a strong word with various meanings, but in this case, it is about the farm communities.
Fear is the emotion often described after a farmer was attacked, a loved one was raped or tortured, maybe even murdered.
And then I haven't even mentioned loss.
The long-term effects on people that were attacked seem to be lasting and take them up to five years to recover.
They all experience an increase in anxiety and fear for their safety. Well, duh. Who wouldn't be traumatized after experiencing something like that? And the added stress is the fact that it takes farmers up to 18 months on average to have their farms become productive again.
And then there is a case of farmers abandoning their farms after being attacked. Or they move from the farmhouse to a secure complex only to drive to their farms during the day. The fear of being on that beautiful piece of land during the night is far too great.
It is disheartening to see the lasting effects take a toll on proud people, especially farmers. Farmers have grown South Africa, and they have been part of the history we know today for generations. The farms they inherited could have been part of their family for a very long time. And to destroy something that is so sentimental is cold-hearted.
What happened to being a proud South African? What happened to the justice system? What happened to humanity?
If South Africa has become a country that kills in cold blood, take women and children's virtue, to torturing elders and being racist, then we maybe aren't such a proud country anymore.
Let's protect and help the farmers that have lasting effects of being attacked on their inheritance.
"In communities where a farm attack occurs, almost immediately the rest of the farmers in the community request additional safety training, self-defence training, and rural security strategies. They almost immediately start living with that fear of an attack."
- Dr Jane Buys
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