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- KZN Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala condemned the murder of farmers Glen and Vida Rafferty.
- He called on the authorities to bring his killers to the account.
- The couple was killed on Saturday after a group of attackers fired aHe had killed them.
KwaZulu-Natal Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala has called the farm killings anti-ubuntu after the murder of the Glen and Vida Rafferty couple in Newcastle over the weekend.
“The ongoing slaughter of farmers goes against the spirit of ubuntu. It is an indictment about the significant contribution made by the farming community in improving our rural population,” Zikalala said Monday.
The couple were killed on their farm in the Normandien area on Saturday night after they were shot and killed, allegedly by a group of attackers who overpowered them shortly after they got home.
His dog was also shot.
Zikalala said they were “described as a farming couple who were admired by the local community for their contribution to improving the lives of other people.”
READ HERE | Couple and dog shot dead in attack on KZN farm
He called on law enforcement agencies to work around the clock to “ensure that the perpetrators are brought to the books.”
“Farm killings remain a serious concern in the province. We condemn this murder of the farmer couple in the strongest possible terms.”
In addition, he called on ordinary citizens to “oppose the killing of farmers and protect them from criminal elements.”
According to Netwerk24, Dr. Lourie Bosman described Glen as a gentleman who was fluent in Zulu and was heavily involved in the farming community; a local farmer and member of Freedom Front Plus.
READ | Farm killings: Vice President Mabuza speaks out
The attackers fled in the couple’s vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Elandslaagte.
News24 reported that Newcastle Mayor Ntuthuko Mahlaba described the attack as a “gruesome atrocity” and called for the swift arrest of the killers.
He said that the Raffertys were progressive people who cared deeply for the Newcastle community. He said they were loved and fondly admired for their contribution to the betterment of our society.
READ ALSO | SAHRC to investigate tweets glorifying farm killings
Mahlaba said the couple understood “the culture and tradition of our municipality.”
“Their premature deaths are a great loss to our community, and the agricultural fraternity in particular. The slaughter of the farmers and their workers must be denounced with the contempt it deserves at all times.”
Mahlaba urged anyone with information to contact the nearest police station and implored farmers and agricultural workers to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police.
