BOWMAN MP Andrew Laming has waded into South African politics, saying that in a worst case scenario, attacks on white farmers are “a form of ethnic cleansing in rural areas”.
He said if this was the case the world faced “one of the most significant international tragedies currently occurring even though it’s to a very small number of people”.
Mr Laming welcomed an investigation by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton into violence against white farmers, saying a comment he posted on Facebook had been shared more than 20,000 times in a few days.
But Mr Laming was denounced by South African-based Institute for Security Studies researcher Gareth Newham who said black people were far more likely to be murdered than white people in South Africa.
“There is absolutely no evidence there is any form of targeting farmers because they are white,” Mr Newham said.
He said an independent inquiry had found the motive was robbery in about 90 per cent of farm attacks and in fewer than 2 per cent, the motive could be prescribed to race due to statements made by attackers.
The inquiry found that 61.6 per cent of people murdered or injured in farm attacks were white and 33.3 per cent black.
“The attacks on farmers of any race should be of concern to us all,” Mr Newham said.
“However, attempts to racialise or politicise our public safety challenges will not result in a sustainable and inclusive solution.
“Hopefully the international community will not fall into the trap of only raising concerns when white people are affected but support initiatives and interventions that promote the public safety of all people in South Africa.”
South African immigrants plan to march on the Queensland Parliament on Sunday in support of the federal government and to voice concerns about South African land ownership.
Mr Laming said in his social media post, which included a graphic picture of an injured man: “400 attacks on white South African farmers each year. This 87yo clubbed with an iron bar and his wife raped. So at what point do we consider them refugees?”
He said his research suggested the South African government might not have had direct involvement in the attacks but appeared to be doing little to stop them.
“There appeared to be some level of organisation behind these attacks that couldn’t be explained away as simply random,” Mr Laming said.
“We need to know more about what’s happening in South Africa and South Africa needs to know the world is watching.”
Mr Laming said if people were being targeted on the grounds of race they deserved protection in Australia under the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
South Africa’s International Relations and Co-operation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu last week demanded a retraction by Mr Dutton.
“It was communicated to the (Australian High Commissioner to South Africa Adam McCarthy) that the South African government is offended by the statements which have been attributed to the Australian home affairs minister and a full retraction is expected,” Ms Sisulu said.
Mr Newham said independent inquiries into farm attacks in South Africa had found no evidence the government was involved.
“It is completely untrue the government is doing little to stop them,” he said.
Mr Newham said more could be done to improve public safety in South Africa and the challenge was related to the deterioration in criminal justice agencies over the past decade due to corruption surrounding previous president Jacob Zuma.
“He has appointed people who are incompetent, dishonest and act primarily in his private interests to head most of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
“The result has been a substantial increase in violence and organised crime. Like all South Africans, farmers are experiencing a declining level of public safety.”
