Over the past weeks, the dead bodies of women have been discovered in Gauteng, which has raised an alarm about femicide and gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. Female farmers share their lived experiences and demand accessible and proactive policing to protect vulnerable families.
The agricultural community have stood up, calling for justice and harsh sentences to be imposed on those found guilty and strong support for surviving victims.
Killing fields: Crime stats reflect living nightmare
Recently, the South African Police Service (SAPS) released its first-quarter crime statistics for the 2026/2027 financial year (covering April to June 2026). A total of 50 511 gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases were registered with the SAPS, with 30 736 resulting in arrests or referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority.
According to the crime statistics, 5 427 people were murdered between April and June 2026; murdered women were 569, while 1 052 survived attempted murder.
The high price of isolation
Free State farmer Mimie Jacobs, who was brutally attacked on her farm five years ago, said that since the attack she had to become more vigilant about my safety.
“I stepped up security at home, on my phone and other devices, and outside. I changed habits like locking every entrance at all times. I no longer jog alone on the road; I jog with my dog, and a family member always knows my whereabouts.”
She said that, as a person who has gone through a lot, her advice to women experiencing domestic violence is to report the incidents to authorities, seek counselling, and talk to a trusted friend.
“Don’t isolate yourself. Life is no rehearsal; abuse starts and stops with you. Use positive self-talk and improve yourself educationally so you are not dependent on a partner/financially, as women tend to stay as a direct result of the lack of financial independence.
“For additional safety, I joined local groups like our emergency group and farmers association. I also keep a spare phone with emergency contacts, charged and loaded with airtime, in a safe place in case of theft,” she said.
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Motshidisi Modise, a crop farmer in Mpumalanga, emphasises that calls to declare GBV a national crisis can no longer be ignored by the country’s leadership. Having recently survived a robbery on her farm, Modise speaks directly to the profound vulnerability felt by women working in secluded rural areas.
“Being recently a victim of robbery, I know firsthand how it feels to be that vulnerable, confused, and afraid. It’s a mother, sister, or child that is taken away from her loved ones as if she didn’t mean anything to this life.
“In every industry we face risks, but the geography of our working environment isolates us from communities, leaving women in agriculture as easy targets,” she said.
Modise also points directly to the systemic bottlenecks stalling justice for victims in rural communities.
“The justice system is failing us. The processes take too long, and the outcomes are disappointing. Harsher sentences must be implemented, especially in cases where evidence is undeniable.”
Mpumalanga farmer Motshidisi Modise
Echoing this state of ongoing fear, Nontobeko Gcwabaza, a crop farmer from KwaZulu-Natal, highlights the heavy psychological burden carried by women who manage farms while caring for their families.
“It reminds me that living in South Africa as a woman is a trauma on its own. We live in constant fear of what will happen next. You ask yourself: ‘Will I make it to work? Will I make it home after work? What will happen to my daughter who is home alone after school while I am still in the fields?’”
Beyond the campaigns: Demanding systemic justice and rural safety
Charlotte Mosena, a farmer and chef based in Gauteng said that as women, and especially as mothers raising children in the country, it is frightening not knowing whether their families are truly safe.
“I believe we need to see stronger accountability, accessible policing and support services in rural areas, and clear action beyond campaigns. Women should be able to live and work on farms without feeling that their isolation makes them more vulnerable.
“We constantly hear reports of women and children being murdered or abused, followed by campaigns and movements where we change our profile pictures and stand in solidarity. I do believe those movements are important, but we also need to ask: ‘what happens afterwards?’,” she said.
She emphasised that one area that really needs focus on is the safety of women in rural and agricultural environments.
“Most farms are situated in isolated areas, often far from police stations, emergency services and other forms of support. For a woman working or living on a farm, getting help quickly when something happens can be extremely difficult,” she added.
A widespread crisis: Tackling the root causes of violence
Meanwhile, the latest femicide cases in Kempton Park are not an isolated problem, said Ndumi Funda, founder and director of Luleki Sizwe Women’s Project.
Funda said the lack of progress in resolving cases, holding perpetrators accountable and securing harsher sentences for gender-based violence is leaving families frustrated.
He said some cases receive attention while others remain unresolved because they do not attract the same public interest.
“We cannot sit in a society where we raise a boy child and a girl child and see nothing wrong with what is happening in our country,” he said.
Sisa Nobanda, founder of Qula Kwedini Youth Initiatives in KwaLanga, Western Cape, said the conversation also needs to consider the wider violence affecting communities, including men and women who are robbed and killed.
“I feel we are not addressing the real issue of violence; we are just reacting to the headlines,” he said.
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