Johannesburg – Police minister, Bheki Cele led the Rural Safety Imbizo in Bethlehem, Free State on Thursday.
The imbizo was attended by the senior leadership of the South African Police Service and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula also sent representatives from her office to take part in the meeting.
“The purpose of this community engagement is to give feedback on policing matters to the farming communities in these areas,” tweeted SAPS.
There had been a lot of tension in the area following the murders of farm manager Brendin Horner.
Some farmers in the area raised concerns that black farmers have not been receiving adequate service from police officers.
The African Farmers Association of SA (AFASA) said they have been excluded from community talks on safety.
Cele demanded a thorough investigation of the alleged involvement of some SAPS members in criminal activities and cases of stock theft in the Free State.
The minister told farmers that levels of stock theft are equivalent to economic sabotage and said the crime should be tackled like other serious crimes.
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