FARMERS in KwaZulu-Natal are calling for beefed up security because they fear for their lives after the attack on former government official Warwick Dorning.

FARMERS in KwaZulu-Natal are calling for beefed up security because they fear for their lives after the attack on former government official Warwick Dorning.

Dorning was gunned down as he came to his wife's rescue against armed robbers last weekend.

Intruders had entered their farm home, Adamshurst, near Howick in the Midlands.

KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union security manager Koos Marais said they were outraged by the attacks on innocent farmers in the province.

He called on the government to ensure police visibility in rural areas and on farms.

"The killing of Dorning angers us all and we need to ensure that such attacks do not continue on our farms.

"Politicians need to take a stand against any kind of murder," he said.

Marais said the killing of a farmer is a loss of food and jobs for the nation.

"Agriculture cannot afford these farm killings. Farmers cannot have the utmost security because a farm is like an office. People come and go every day. It's a business operation," said Marais.

Two gunmen confronted Dorning's wife, Dawn, in their bedroom. When he came to assist her he was shot in the head. The gunmen fled with a Dstv decoder, two cellphones and a video player.

Marais lashed out at politicians who keep silent when people are being murdered.

"In the murder of Dorning, only Premier Zweli Mkhize and MEC Lydia Johnson have expressed concern.

"But we need more politicians to speak out against the murders of people," he said.