Moodey launched his campaign to be elected leader of the DA in Johannesburg on Monday.

He will take on interim leader John Steenhuisen and former DA youth leader Mbali Ntuli at the party’s elective conference in May.

Moodey believes a specialised unit will be able to reduce the number of people killed on the country’s smallholdings and farms.

“Farm murders is a form of terrorism, a well-trained and resourced specialised rural crime prevention unit should be established to combat farm murders.”

He added that part of the problem lies with the country’s police service, which is badly managed.

“South Africa ranks among top crime-infested countries internationally, our police are under resourced, poorly trained and badly-led. Corruption is rife in the service, trade union involvement hinders discipline, and promotions are based on political affiliation. Crime prevention and crime intelligence techniques are non-existent.”

“All staff should be subjected to a skill audit, all employees should be screened to wield out criminals, promotion should be based on merit and experience,” said Moodey.