In a major move to address crime across South Africa’s agricultural landscape, AgriCulture South Africa (AgriSA) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen rural safety. The partnership formalises a year of close collaboration, merging the expansive ground-level network of organised agriculture with the independent research expertise of Africa’s leading security and justice institute.
By systematically collecting, sharing, and reporting on rural crime data, both organisations aim to establish a reliable, shared body of evidence that puts verified facts at the heart of national security policy.
Moving Beyond Competing Narratives
Public discourse surrounding farm crime has long been clouded by conflicting figures and emotionally charged debates. AgriSA and the ISS emphasize that credible, independently analysed data provides the strongest foundation for protecting farm owners, farm workers, and rural communities, while ensuring the state remains accountable to its public safety commitments.
Through rigorous data collection, the initiative will focus on identifying the root causes of rural violence, determining which prevention strategies yield real results, and formulating actionable solutions. This evidence base will directly inform future engagements with government officials and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to shape an effective, national response.
A Community-Centred Approach to Crime
Central to the partnership is the recognition that crime on farms cannot be addressed in isolation from surrounding towns. Violent crime and theft impact the entire rural ecosystem, affecting farmers, agricultural labour, agribusinesses, and local residents alike.
Both AgriSA and the ISS contend that lasting prevention requires a holistic community lens—one supported by efficient local policing, transparent partnerships between the public and the police, and structured, accountable community safety initiatives.
Leadership Speaks on Practical Solutions
Leadership from both organisations highlighted the practical focus of the agreement.
“Rural safety requires us to move beyond competing statistics and focus on what the evidence tells us,” said Johann Kotzé, Chief Executive Officer of AgriSA. “AgriSA brings the experience and reach of organised agriculture, while the ISS brings independence, research rigour, and deep expertise in crime and justice. Together, we want to turn that knowledge into practical interventions that improve safety for the people who live and work in rural communities.”
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Lizette Lancaster, head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the ISS, echoed the importance of evidence-driven policy: “Good policy starts with good evidence. Organised agriculture holds knowledge of rural areas that is difficult to obtain any other way, and this partnership allows us to combine that knowledge with our research and analysis. Our aim is to understand what drives violence in rural areas, what is working to prevent it, and how the state and communities can respond more effectively.”
By bridging independent research and on-the-ground farming experience, the partnership sets out with a clear, unified objective: delivering safer rural communities across South Africa.