Anet Coetzee, a former school teacher from South Africa, was in bed early on a Sunday morning in 2023 when a double-barrel shotgun came through her broken window. With no electricity due to the country’s rolling blackouts, it was dark in her home. She immediately recognized the shape of the gun. “I knew what kind of damage this type of gun could do,” she mentioned in a call.
As she prayed, a shot struck her in the face and arms, snapping her out of bed. “I thought they killed me,” she recalled. With most of her teeth gone, Coetzee called out for her young foster son, fearing for his life as the bullet flew just above his headboard.
“If he hadn’t been hiding under his bed… he would have been dead,” she said, expressing her relief. She managed to flee to the door just as a third shot shattered it. Hearing the noise, a neighbor jumped the fence to help. Coetzee was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, where she waited for treatment in the corridor. “How on earth will you survive this?” were her thoughts as the medical staff finally admitted her.
Coetzee lost her right eye in the attack but survived. A criminologist from the University of South Africa, Rudolph Zinn, stated that greed rather than race is usually the motivation behind such violent acts. “They make calculated decisions about who to target based on available information,” he explained, noting that farms near urban centers tend to be more vulnerable to crime.
Coetzee’s attackers, described as two or three men, were never apprehended, and nothing was stolen, according to her report. Benny Vanjill, the general manager of a farmer’s organization, emphasized that the brutality of farm attacks cannot easily be compared to other violent crimes.
Historically, the issue of farm murders has drawn significant attention. Reports of extreme violence, such as brutal killings with horrific details, have been documented over the years. Certain political figures have also fueled tensions by using incendiary rhetoric against farmers.
More recently, former President Donald Trump labeled the situation in South Africa as “genocide,” highlighting frustrations over land confiscation and violence against white farmers. The issue polarized opinions, with some claiming that chants calling for violence against farmers serve as a dangerous form of incitement.
Jack Bradrick, a spokesperson for a community organization, argued that the state neglecting these issues contributes to violence. He pointed out that chants targeting specific groups are not just words but can act as instructions. Despite differing opinions on the use of the term “genocide,” it’s clear that the reality of violent crime in South Africa is deeply troubling, with many families affected.
