“South African legislation protects the rights of legal land owners and Agri SA therefore welcomes the guidelines develop by the police in respect of their role and responsibility to ensure that all police members act within the ambit of applicable legislation and policy when dealing with complaints, regarding trespassing, land invasions and illegal eviction”, said Kobus Breytenbach, chair of Agri SA’s Rural Safety Committee.
Inflammatory statements and the encouragement of supporters to occupy 
farm land are irresponsible and dangerous. While these statements are often made at public forums, they may also contribute to a climate conducive of carrying out such actions. It has to be kept in mind that a criminal element exists everywhere and such statements may serve to rationalise the invasion of farm land in the criminal mind. These guidelines are supported by Agri SA and will provide a framework within which the police and farmers can take hands to prevent such actions.
These guidelines are further necessary to provide uniformity within the police service on how to deal with these issues. Breytenbach said, “it is also important for land owners to know what the responsibility of police officials are in dealing with these issues and how they should approach the police to lay a charge”.
