The official militarisation of South Africa's farming community, along the lines already developed in Rhodesia, began in November 1978 when the Steyn Committee was convened by Prime Minister Botha to enquire into conditions in the border areas of the northern and eastern Transvaal, and a sub-committee appointed to make recommendations for improved security.
Serving on this committee were the Chief of the SADF and representatives of the Land-bank, the Post Office, other government departments and farmers' organisations. (Boerenuus November 1978)
Investigations showed that nearly half the farms in some border areas had absentee owners, a matter of concern to the authorities. In Thabazimbi district, for example, in the north-west Transvaal, only 118 out of 400 large cattle farms were owned by bona-fide farmers, and only 20% were occupied by whites. (Many farms are owned by businessmen or game firms).
A Senate debate on "Security Measures on Farms Adjoining Independent States" was attended by the Ministers of Police and Agriculture and the Deputy Minister of Defence. All speakers stressed the importance of white farmers in the border areas; according to the Minister of Agriculture, "a terrorist can walk from the Limpopo River right through to Pietersburg without having to set foot on a farm occupied by whites" (Senate Debates 1.3.79)
The Deputy Minister of Defence, H.J. Coetzee, outlined governmental plans for security in border areas. Saying "the crux of the matter is that our borders are physically the first line of our heartland... They are also the symbol of our ability to defend ourselves", Mr. Coetzee described plans to offer land to young farmers with military training
