Industry body Agri SA has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), which formalises a working relationship built over the past year.

The two organisations have committed to collect, share and jointly report on rural crime data, bringing together the reach of organised agriculture and the independent research expertise of one of Africa’s leading institutes specialising 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, farm workers and rural communities, and for holding the State to its commitments," says Agri SA CEO Johann Kotzé.

Both organisations approach rural safety through a community lens, saying that crime on farms does not happen in isolation from the towns around them. Rather, it affects farm owners, farm workers, agribusinesses and their employees alike, and lasting prevention depends on effective local policing, cooperation between communities and the police, and structured, accountable community safety initiatives.

Under the agreement, Agri SA and the ISS will build a shared, credible body of evidence on crime in rural areas. That evidence will allow the two organisations to identify the root causes of rural crime, drive practical solutions that make rural communities safer, and shape the national response through direct 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. AgriSA 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 the people who live and work in rural communities,” Kotzé states.

ISS justice and violence prevention programme head Lizette Lancaster adds that good policy starts with good 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."