The African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA) is deeply shocked and outraged by the brutal killing of their KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson, Mbongeni Skhakhane, who was shot and killed at his home on Friday (26 December 2025).

“This tragedy comes at a time when families across the country are on holiday, enjoying a welcome rest from the toil of their endeavours throughout the year. Farmers, however, do not enjoy this benefit. They continue to labour tirelessly to ensure that food is available for all the festivities and year-end celebrations.

“The loss of another farmer is devastating because it robs the country of one more soldier in the fight against food insecurity,” AFASA National Chairperson Molefe Mahape laments in a media release.

Skhakhane is remembered as a respected leader who served AFASA for many years and worked to uplift emerging farmers and strengthen support for black farmers in the province.

In November, he played an active role at the AFASA Leadership and Strategic Partnership Conference, mobilising his Provincial Executive Committee and securing strong support from the KZN provincial government. Working closely with the MEC and HOD, he helped enable member participation and farmer training initiatives, underscoring his commitment to farmer development and strategic partnerships.

Beyond his provincial leadership, Skhakhane was a valued member of the AFASA National Executive Committee (NEC), responsible for developing and implementing strategies to advance the cause of developing farmers across South Africa.

The President of AFASA, AJ Mthembu, along with the NEC and AFASA members, conveyed their condolences to the Skhakhane family, their relatives and the community at large. “His passing is not only a loss to KwaZulu-Natal but to the entire AFASA family and the agricultural sector at large. We stand united in grief and resolute in our demand for justice and protection for all farmers.”

AFASA strongly condemned the act, which they called cowardly and violent. “We call upon the South African Police Service to leave no stone unturned in their investigation, ensuring that those responsible are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.”

The organisation further urged government to mobilise resources to deal decisively with farm killings. “There is a dangerous narrative that only white commercial farmers suffer this scourge, as was recently depicted during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House. This narrative is misleading and harmful.

“Farm killings do not discriminate by race, colour, or scale of operation. Black farmers, especially developing farmers, are among the worst affected because they lack the resources to secure their farms and protect themselves.”

According to AFASA, farm killings are a national crisis that demands urgent intervention, as recent reports show 188 farm attacks and 34 murders were recorded in 2024, with 16 attacks and 3 murders already reported in the first weeks of 2025.

“As the organisation representing black farmers, AFASA is deeply concerned that developing farmers are disproportionately vulnerable. Unlike large commercial operations, many smallholder and emerging farmers lack the financial resources, infrastructure, and private security capacity to protect themselves, their families, and their farms.”

AFASA calls for strengthened rural safety measures, including:

Increased policing and surveillance in farming areas

The establishment of dedicated rapid-response rural safety units

The use of modern surveillance technologies to deter crime

The implementation of a coordinated national plan to prevent farm killings in recognition of their threat to food security and rural development

AFASA further calls on the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, to urgently engage his counterpart, the Minister of Police, Firos Cachalia, along with all relevant state agencies, to develop and implement this national plan without delay.

“We hope this loss will not be in vain but will create serious awareness and ignite determined action from both the public and government to address this crisis, as the killing of one farmer affects the nation at large. Those who address poverty, contribute to economic development through food production, creation of employment, and fight inequality must be protected, their efforts better acknowledged, and their lives secured,” concluded Mahape.

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