Agri SA and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) have agreed to collect, share and jointly report rural crime data. The partnership combines Agri SA’s reach in the agricultural sector with the ISS’s independent research expertise in security, crime and justice.
“Public debate about crime on farms is often shaped by competing figures and strongly held narratives. Credible, independently analysed evidence is the strongest basis for protecting farmers, farmworkers and rural communities, and for holding the State to its commitments,” says Agri SA CEO Johann Kotzé.
The organisations say rural crime affects entire communities, including farm owners, farmworkers, agribusinesses and their employees. They believe lasting prevention depends on effective local policing, cooperation between communities and police, and structured, accountable community-safety initiatives.
Under the agreement, Agri SA and the ISS will build a shared evidence base on rural crime. They will use it to identify underlying causes, develop practical safety measures and inform the national response through engagement with the South African Police Service and government.
“Rural safety requires us to move beyond competing statistics and focus on what the evidence tells us,” Kotzé says. “Agri SA 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 people who live and work in rural communities.”
ISS Justice and Violence Prevention Programme head Lizette Lancaster says effective policy depends on reliable 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
