Minister Senzo Mchunu Refutes Trump's Claims on South African Farmer Killings Amidst Falling Crime Rates

In a recent disclosure of crime statistics, South Africa's Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, addressed the controversy stirred by former US President Donald Trump's comments regarding supposed rampant attacks on South African farmers. The statistics, which covered the period from October to December 2024, revealed that serious crimes, including murders and rapes, are on a declining trend across all provinces.

During the third quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, there were 6,953 reported murders, a 9.8% drop from the previous year. Of these, only 12 were farm murders. Notably, out of these farm-related incidents, just one victim was a farmer. The others impacted were farm dwellers, employees, a security guard, and one unidentified individual. This particular statistic stands in stark contrast to Trump’s alarming portrayal of the situation.

Mchunu expressed confusion over the origin of Trump's assertions, emphasizing the reliance of the South African police on scientific evidence to compile crime data. "We need to understand where Mr. Trump is getting his information," Mchunu stated, suggesting that perhaps Trump’s definition of 'farmer' might be more broadly interpreted than what local statistics indicate.

Accompanying the decrease in violent crimes, livestock theft also saw a reduction by 4.5%. Recognizing the region-specific outcry, particularly from the eastern Free State, north-western KwaZulu-Natal, and northern Eastern Cape, the minister mentioned upcoming strategic meetings aimed at tackling this issue in the affected areas.

Despite the notable progress indicated by the reduced crime figures, Mchunu voiced ongoing concerns, particularly about the murder rate, which still averages about 75 killings a day. At a national level, efforts are being intensified to address this, with innovative strategies being considered to further reduce these figures.

The provinces with the highest incidences of murders were Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, followed closely by Eastern Cape and Western Cape, pointing to a persistent need for targeted interventions in these areas.

Through his discourse, Mchunu not only challenged Trump’s comments but also reinforced the commitment of the South African police force to continual improvement and the safety of all citizens, including those in the agricultural sector.