By Alani Janeke
In the parliamentary debate on the state address, John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture, said the safety of every single South African, including the country’s farmers and farm workers, must be ensured.
“The dismantling of the rural safety units was a catastrophic mistake that opened the door for the collapse of rural policing and the targeting of our farmers and farm workers of all races by violent criminals and syndicates,” Steenhuisen said in the debate on the state address delivered on Tuesday, 11 February.
Steenhuisen visited various rural communities in the Free State recently and held discussions with commercial and small-scale farmers in places including Thaba Nchu, Ficksburg and other parts of the province.
“I listened to their heartbreaking stories about how they fear for their lives and are preyed on almost monthly by syndicates of stock thieves who destroy their opportunity to grow their businesses. Cases are reported (to the police), but they are never investigated. They know who is responsible but cannot secure arrests or convictions.”
Steenhuisen said the situation cannot go unaddressed and announced that he will develop a comprehensive plan to combat farm murders and stock theft and improve rural safety. He will work with the Minister of Police and the entire security and justice cluster to end the scourge “once and for all”.
Watch Minister Steenhuisen’s statement in Parliament.
