A poignant memorial site along the N1 highway between Bela-Bela and Mokopane serves as a solemn tribute to farmers who lost their lives in violent farm attacks across South Africa. The Plaasmoord (Farm murder) Monument or White Cross Monument is very significant amid recent international attention.
A Place of Remembrance
Erected in 2004, the memorial features a central cross surrounded by hundreds (there are more than 2500 crosses each with a name, age and murder date) of smaller crosses, each representing a farmer killed while working to sustain the nation’s food security. It was emphasized that the site honors victims of diverse backgrounds, including Afrikaners, black farmers, and those of Portuguese descent.
“This is one of many memorials across the country,” the reporter explained. “Its purpose is to ensure these lives are never forgotten.”
Correcting the Record
The report clarified that this particular site was not the location referenced in a recent video shown by former U.S. President Donald Trump to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. While the exact location of that footage remains unclear, the Plaasmoord Memorial stands as a symbol of the broader crisis of farm violence in South Africa.
A Call for Recognition
Historically, the memorial has been a gathering point for annual commemorations by community groups and political parties. Advocates stress that farm attacks not only threaten lives but also jeopardize food production, impacting the entire nation.
As debates over rural safety continue, sites like these serve as a stark reminder of the human cost behind the statistics—and the urgent need for solutions.
If the farmers leave or keep on being murdered then South Africa will head into a famine and disastrous state like Zimbabwe.
South Africa Today has been covering farm attacks and farm murders since early 2014, read about more farm attacks here.