Fact check: How many white farmers are in south afrika compared to black farmers. How many got killed of both groups over the past years

1. Summary of the results

Regarding the number of farmers:

• Out of 242,221 total commercial farming households, only 43,891 (18%) are white farmers ^[1]
• Among agricultural households with farming as their main income source, 70% ^{[2] [3]} are black farmers ^[1]

Regarding land ownership:

• White farmers own approximately 72-78% of agricultural land despite making up only 7.8% of the population ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Black South Africans, who comprise 80% of the population, own only 4% of individually registered farms ^{[4] [5]}

Regarding violence:

• Recent data (January-March) shows that out of six farm-related murders, five victims were black and one was white ^[7]
• In 2024, out of 26,232 total murders nationwide, only 44 were linked to farming communities, with 8 being farmers ^[5]
• The Afrikaner farmers' union has recorded 1,363 white farmers murdered since 1990, averaging 40 per year ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• The stark disparity between land ownership and population demographics is crucial context: while white farmers are a minority in terms of numbers, they control the vast majority of agricultural land - 61 million hectares as of 2022 ^[6]
• The total murder rate in South Africa needs to be considered when analyzing farm murders - farm-related killings represent a very small percentage (0.17%) of total murders ^[5]
• The historical context of land ownership patterns dating back to apartheid is important for understanding current disparities

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

• The question itself could reflect common narratives about targeted violence against white farmers, which the data does not support ^[7]
• Statistics can be manipulated depending on how "farmers" are defined - whether including all agricultural households or only commercial farmers
• Different interest groups might present these statistics differently:
• White farming organizations might emphasize violence statistics to maintain political influence
• Land reform advocates might focus on land ownership disparities to push for redistribution
• Government agencies might highlight the increasing number of black farmers to demonstrate progress in transformation

The data suggests that while white farmers are a minority in terms of numbers, they maintain significant control over agricultural resources, and violence affects both white and black farming communities.