Police make swift arrests after horrific farm murder of 74-year-old woman
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been commended for making swift arrests following the horrific murder of a 74-year-old woman, Christine Walters, on her farm near Calvinia over the weekend. According to reports, Walters was found in close proximity to her farmhouse with a bullet wound to her head on Friday evening. Her hands […]
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been commended for making swift arrests following the horrific murder of a 74-year-old woman, Christine Walters, on her farm near Calvinia over the weekend.
According to reports, Walters was found in close proximity to her farmhouse with a bullet wound to her head on Friday evening. Her hands were apparently tied behind her back with thick wire, and there was a belt around her neck.
Reinette Liebenberg – DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Agriculture etc – said in a statement on Tuesday:
“We are shocked by the brutality of this case and convey our sympathy to her family. The recently released crime statistics have shown a definite increase in violent crime in the province, and the murder of Walters is no coincidence but rather yet another casualty of the increasingly lawless and unsafe society in which we live.”
According to the latest South African crime stats, an average of 82 people are killed daily in SA.
The DA commended SAPS for its speedy apprehension of three suspects over the weekend, but added:
“We remain concerned that the location of the stolen weapons from the farm is still unknown, and we appeal to SAPS to leave no stone unturned in tracking the firearms and gathering sufficient evidence to ensure a conviction.”
Only about a third of farm murder suspects in South Arica are arrested, according to AfriForum’s farm murder report for 2022.
The DA said it will track the developments in Christine Walters’ case through its Provincial Court Watching Briefs Unit to “support the family, be able to hold the police accountable, and monitor the court proceedings until justice has been served”.
According to Christine’s Facebook profile, she was widowed. One of her friends has left a tribute saying: “It is with sadness that we heard of your murder (on Saturday) morning (4 March 2023) on your beloved farm in Ceres. RIP dear friend.”
AfriForum is investigating legal options to give farm- and neighbourhood watches more power to carry out their tasks efficiently.