[This is how Natalie wrote about living on a farm. She stayed on a farm for quite a while, when she came to South Africa. Jan]

This is how she described it:

During my visit to South Africa, I stayed on a farm — and it was without question one of the scariest times of my life. Farms are extremely isolated, far apart from one another, and help is not easy to come by at all.

One night, the dogs suddenly went frantic. The fear was overwhelming. I ran down the hallway with a shotgun in my hands, genuinely believing something terrible was about to happen. Farmers are not safe. I did not feel safe for a single moment. The anxiety was constant, and sleeping on the farm was almost impossible.

December is especially dangerous. The risk of attacks or worse increases dramatically during this time. While we were away from the farm, criminals broke in and stole a huge amount of tools and equipment. The reality is that you feel trapped — if you leave, you risk being stolen blind; if you stay, you live in fear.

There were numerous farm attacks while I was there. Yet most farmers will not speak openly about these atrocities, especially after an attack or something worse. The trauma runs deep, and these conversations are often avoided.

Farming is one of the most dangerous jobs in South Africa — a reality too many people choose to ignore.