A hillside of white crosses fuels a misleading story about South Africa's farm killings
MOKOPANE, South Africa (AP) — The white crosses are staked in the ground on an otherwise barren hillside on the edge of a farm, each one standing as a reminder of a terrible story of a person being killed.
But the crosses, nearly 3,000 of them, do not tell the full story of South Africa's farm killings.
The Witkruis Monument — which means White Cross Monument in the language spoken by South Africa's white Afrikaner minority — is a memorial only to white people who were killed on farms over the last three decades. It's a visceral snapshot seized on by some South Africans to drive a discredited narrative that white farmers in the majority Black country are being targeted in a widespread, race-based system of persecution.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The false narrative has also been spread by conservative commentators in the United States and elsewhere — and amplified by South African-born Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump. Last month, Trump escalated the rhetoric, using the term 'genocide' to describe violence against white farmers.
The South African government and experts who have studied farm killings have publicly denounced the misinformation spread by Trump and others. Even the caretaker of Witkruis says the monument — which makes no reference to the hundreds of Black South African farmers and farmworkers who have been killed — does not tell the complete story.
The killings of farmers and farmworkers, regardless of race, are a tiny percentage of the country's high level of crime, and they typically occur during armed robberies, according to available statistics and two studies carried out over the last 25 years.
Yet because wealthier white people own 72% of South Africa's privately owned farms, according to census data, they are disproportionately affected by these often brutal crimes. Black people own just 4% of the country's privately owned farmland, and the rest is owned by people who are mixed race or of Indian heritage.
Misinformation about farm killings has been fueled by right-wing political groups in South Africa and others outside the country, said Gareth Newman, a crime expert at the Institute for Security Studies think tank in Pretoria.
Some of the fringe South African groups, which hold no official power, boycotted the country's first democratic elections in 1994, when South Africa's apartheid system of white minority rule officially ended. They have espoused a debunked theory of persecution — in a country where whites make up about 7% of the population — ever since.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
'They held on to these beliefs as a way of maintaining social cohesion in their groups, making sure that they can obtain funding and support,' Newman said. 'And they were getting support from right-wing groups abroad because it fit their narrative.'
A monument to white victims
The Witkruis Monument was started in 2004 but recognizes victims going back to 1994.
Each year, more crosses are planted to memorialize white farmers and their family members who were killed, organizers say. Recently, they've planted around 50 crosses a year.
Kobus de Lange, a local Afrikaner farmer, has taken on the role of caretaker of Witkruis. He gave The Associated Press access to see the memorial, bringing along his wife and children to help tidy up the monument in the country's north, near the town of Mokopane.
De Lange expressed the fear and frustration of a white farming community that feels authorities have not done enough to protect them. One of his sons wore a T-shirt with the slogan 'enough is enough' — written in their Afrikaans language — in reference to the killings.
But de Lange acknowledged that the memorial does not capture the full scope of farm killings.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
'It's across the board, there are Black farmers who are also attacked,' de Lange said. He said in some farm attacks, Black farmworkers are tortured by criminals for information on how to break into the main farmhouse.
The Witkruis Monument would be willing to put up crosses to Black farmers and farmworkers who have been killed, but their relatives haven't requested it, he said.
The monument includes memorabilia bearing the flags of conservative Afrikaner movements, symbols that are generally frowned upon because Afrikaners were at the heart of the apartheid government.
Black farmworkers are also vulnerable
From April 2023 through March 2024, there were 49 farm killings recorded by AfriForum, a white Afrikaner lobby group. That's about 0.2% of overall murders tallied by the government over the same period. The group recorded 296 farm robberies in that timeframe, or about 0.7% of all robberies.
AfriForum's numbers don't include killings of Black farmers and workers, and the country's official crime statistics are not broken down by race.
Black people make up more than 80% of South Africa's population of 62 million, and most victims of violent crime across South Africa are Black. But there is no public relations campaign to raise awareness about the killing of Black farmers.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Across racial lines, most public outcry about crime in South Africa is over the high rates of rape and murder of women and children, which mostly takes place in cities and townships.
To tamp down misinformation, South African police last month took the unprecedented step of providing a racial breakdown of farm killings during the first three months of the year. Between January and March, there were six murders on farms, down from 12 during the same period last year. One of the victims was white, the rest were Black.
'What Donald Trump is saying about whites being targeted does not exist,' said MmaNtuli Buthelezi, who lives on a farm in Normandien, a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal province.
Black farmworkers also feel vulnerable, Buthelezi said. 'We don't even have small firearms. Our weapons are just a spear and a shield, and sticks we get from the woods.'
Nomandien is an area where the farming community planted white crosses to raise awareness about farm killings in 2020. During a White House visit last month by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump showed a video in which he incorrectly referred to the location as a 'burial site' of slain white farmers.
Also, and without evidence, Trump has accused South Africa's Black-led government of 'fueling' what he said was racially motivated violence against whites. In February, Trump issued an executive order punishing the country by banning all U.S. aid and assistance to South Africa.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
What is the motive for South Africa's farm killings?
The Trump administration has cited a chant used by a minority Black-led political party in South Africa that has the lyrics 'shoot the farmer' as contributing to what it claims is the racially motivated killings of white farmers. Violent crimes against farmers were a problem for years before the apartheid-era chant was revived.
The South African government investigated farm killings in 2003. It interviewed dozens of police detectives and other experts and concluded that robbery was the most common motive for violent crimes, including murders, that occurred on farms. A study by the South African Human Rights Commission in 2015 reached a similar conclusion.
'It is criminal individuals and groups that are targeting them because they are considered vulnerable,' said Newham, who has researched the subject for more than 15 years. 'They have things like cars, guns and laptops.'
In some cases, perpetrators are former laborers who return to attack, kill and rob farm owners to settle disputes over money. In others, disgruntled former employees had returned simply for revenge, according to historical records of the National Prosecuting Authority.
___
Nqunjana reported from Normandien, South Africa.
___
More AP news on South Africa: https://apnews.com/hub/south-africa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
The US inserts itself into Israel's war against Iran and claims ‘severe damage' at nuclear sites
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran by dropping 30,000-pound bombs on a uranium enrichment site early Sunday, raising urgent questions about what remains of Tehran's nuclear program and how its weakened military might respond. Iran lashed out at the U.S. for crossing 'a very big red line' with its risky decision to launch strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites with missiles and bunker-buster bombs.
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
CHARLEBOIS: Missiles fired in the Middle East could drive up your food bill
This picture shows rocket trails in the sky above Jerusalem on June 13, 2025. Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP via Getty Images If the world was looking for a distraction from the intensifying trade tensions under Trump 2.0, the U.S.' direct military action in Iran certainly delivers. But this is no sideshow. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The escalation in the Middle East could have immediate and far-reaching consequences, especially for the global agri-food sector — and Canada is not immune. Geopolitical volatility in the Middle East has historically triggered sharp increases in crude oil prices. Following initial Israel–Iran exchanges in June, oil prices surged over 10%, and the latest attacks suggest more turbulence ahead. Since natural gas is a core input for fertilizer production, any spike in energy markets means higher fertilizer costs. While most Canadian farmers have already secured inputs for this season, unlike the early-2022 Ukraine invasion, cost pressures will be felt later in the supply chain. But the shutdown of Iran's urea and ammonia plants could ripple through global fertilizer markets, tightening supply and driving up prices—especially for nitrogen-based fertilizers. Canada, though a fertilizer producer, still relies on global pricing dynamics, and higher costs could significantly impact input expenses for Canadian farmers. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This could reduce planting margins for crops like wheat, canola, and corn, potentially leading to lower yields or higher food prices. If South American buyers shift demand to other suppliers like the U.S. or Trinidad, competition for fertilizer could intensify. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic choke-point for one-third of global oil and gas shipments, is now even more vulnerable. Any disruption could delay fertilizer and grain shipments, elevate global logistics costs, and strain the availability of key imports like soybeans and wheat. Global supply chains, already stressed, will feel the pinch. Recommended video Currency volatility often follows regional conflict. Emerging market currencies tend to weaken, raising the cost of food and ag inputs in fragile economies. For Canada, the situation is more nuanced. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Higher oil prices may support the loonie, but geopolitical instability breeds uncertainty — and markets despise uncertainty. A weaker Canadian dollar could make imported food, from produce to packaged goods, more expensive. This confluence of factors—rising transport and input costs, potential shipping delays, currency instability—can accelerate food inflation across Canada. Our food supply chain is vast, import-reliant, and highly sensitive to energy costs. Greenhouse operators, Prairie grain growers, and livestock producers could all face margin pressure. Consumers, particularly in lower-income households and in regions like Atlantic Canada or the North, will feel the consequences most acutely. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Beyond economics, Ottawa's diplomatic playbook will be tested. Sanctions — whether imposed by or against Canada—could further disrupt agri-food trade, as was the case in past global conflicts. Export restrictions, trade policy shifts, and new subsidies may emerge as countries scramble to stabilize domestic markets. The global food system is deeply interconnected. What happens in the Middle East doesn't stay there — it sends shockwaves across continents, from farm to fork. This latest escalation is a stark reminder of how vulnerable our food economy remains to geopolitical unrest. Let's hope policymakers are paying attention—and that they keep food-insecure populations, both here and abroad, top of mind. — Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at McGill University in Montreal. Sports Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Columnists Editorial Cartoons
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
US boosts emergency Mideast evacuations and travel warnings after Trump orders strikes in Iran
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department has doubled the number of emergency evacuation flights it is providing for American citizens wishing to leave Israel, ordered the departure of nonessential staff from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon and is stepping up travel warnings around the Middle East amid concerns Iran will retaliate against U.S. interests in the region. In internal and public notices, the department over the weekend significantly ramped up its cautionary advice to Americans in the Mideast.
