The brutal murder of 28-year-old farmer Itumeleng Lengana has sent shockwaves through the farming community in Sonop, outside Brits in North West’s Madibeng Local Municipality, with calls growing for swift police action and justice.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor, African Farming
Itumeleng Lengana, a member of the Optimum Harvest Youth Cooperative, was shot and killed on his farm last week in what community members have described as a confrontation involving a group of heavily armed men. He was producing lucerne and vegetables and was regarded as one of the area’s promising young farmers making the transition into commercial agriculture.
Messages of condolence and support have poured in since his death, including from members of the Ngwanadirane Communal Property Association (CPA), where Lengana was farming.
According to Moshe More, secretary of the Ngwanadirane CPA, the tragedy could potentially have been avoided had police responded more quickly to calls for assistance.“Rre Lengana was a farmer in the Kareepoort area, as a matter of fact, one of the most promising, someone who was breaking into the commercial farming space,” More said.
More said farmers in the area have long struggled with cattle that roam onto their properties, with some allegedly being deliberately herded onto farms to graze on crops. He said the matter had been reported to law enforcement on several occasions, but tracking down the owners and dealing with the problem remained difficult.
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According to More, the incident followed an occasion when cattle entered Lengana’s farm. After herding the animals onto a property where they could be held while awaiting the arrival of the police and their owners, Lengana was confronted by the cattle’s owner.
More alleged that the owner arrived at the farm with about 10 heavily armed men before police arrived.
“They came carrying guns, assegais, machetes and other dangerous weapons. They immediately attacked Mr Lengana, shooting him five or six times and hacking him with machetes,” he said.
More said the group was allegedly speaking Sesotho, leading community members to believe that they were linked to a group they describe as the “Basotho gang” that has allegedly been terrorising farmers in parts of Madibeng.
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Minister visits grieving family
Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp, accompanied by Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi, visited the Lengana family on 7 August to offer condolences and support. Speaking at the family home, Aucamp called for those responsible for the killing to face harsh punishment. He also urged farmers not to lose hope, reminding them of the importance of their contribution to South Africa’s food security and rural economy.
“Your work matters, your contribution matters, and South Africa needs you to continue producing food, creating livelihoods and nurturing the land. One farmer’s death is one too many,” Aucamp said.
More described Lengana’s death as a devastating loss to his family, community and the broader agricultural sector.
“For more than a decade, Itumeleng dedicated himself to farming lucerne and vegetables, building a livelihood, contributing to the food on South Africans’ tables and creating opportunities within his community,” More said.
“His loss is a heartbreaking tragedy for his family, his community and all who knew him. It is also a profound loss to South Africa’s agricultural sector.”
The community is now preparing to lay the young farmer to rest while continuing to press for accountability and arrests in connection with his death.
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