Not a single day seems to pass in South Africa without another report of murder, theft, unrest, corruption or illegal activity.
For many farmers, this is not simply news that they read in the morning newspaper. It is a reality that affects their families, their workers, their businesses and their ability to produce the food on which the country depends.
South African farmers have to remain alert almost around the clock. They face the threat of farm attacks, stock theft, equipment theft, vandalism, rising production costs, unpredictable weather and uncertainty about the future. Farming is already a demanding business, but when personal safety becomes another daily concern, the pressure becomes even greater.
The question is whether government fully recognises the contribution farmers make to the country.
Farmers are taxpayers. They create employment, invest in rural communities and produce the food that reaches South African households every day. Commercial farmers also supply processors, retailers, restaurants and export markets. Their contribution extends far beyond the farm gate.
Yet many farmers feel that their concerns about rural safety and the cost of production are not receiving the attention they deserve. They want more than promises and speeches. They need effective policing, visible action against criminals, better investigation of reported crimes and consequences for those who steal, attack or murder innocent people.
When farmers report a crime, they should be treated with respect and urgency. The same standard should apply to every South African who approaches a police station for assistance. Public servants are there to serve the public, and people reporting crime should never feel that they are being treated as second-class citizens.
Concerns about police service, professionalism and accountability must also be taken seriously. Officers who serve their communities deserve recognition, but complaints about poor service or misconduct should be investigated fairly. Public trust depends on a police service that is professional, responsive and accountable.
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Security is only one part of the problem. The rising cost of diesel, petrol, fertiliser, electricity, machinery, animal feed, labour and transport places enormous pressure on farming businesses.
When fuel prices rise, the impact moves through the entire food chain. Tractors need diesel, trucks must transport produce, and processors and retailers must pay more to move and handle food. These additional costs eventually put pressure on consumers.
Farmers, however, cannot always increase their selling prices to cover every increase in expenses. They often operate in markets where prices are determined by supply, demand and competition. This means they can become the shock absorbers of the food system, carrying higher costs while receiving little or no additional income for their produce.
Consumers then face higher grocery bills, while farmers struggle to maintain profitability. Both sides are under pressure, even though the price consumers pay in a shop is not the same as the price the farmer receives.
Government cannot speak about food security without recognising the people who produce the food. South Africa needs farmers who can invest, employ workers, maintain productive land and continue supplying affordable, safe food.
That requires effective rural policing, reliable infrastructure, sensible agricultural policies and an environment in which farming businesses can survive. It also requires cooperation between government, farming organisations, communities and law-enforcement agencies.
Farmers are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for safety, respect, fairness and practical support for the work they do.
South Africa cannot take its food producers for granted. If farmers are continually expected to absorb rising costs, carry security risks and operate under growing uncertainty, the consequences will reach every household.
The message is clear: protecting farmers is not only about protecting individual lives and businesses. It is about protecting jobs, rural communities and the country's food supply.
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