- News Release From the Transvaal Agricultural Union:
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- Since the release of the Report on Farm Attacks on 25
September 2003, a farm attack took place almost every day. Criminals attacked
innocent victims in Cullinan, Carletonville and Levubu. Near Levubu, at
approximately 11:00 on 28 September 2003, Mr Piet de Jager (aged 65), was
killed in cold blood on his farm Laatsgevonden.
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- It is notable that the Report on Farm Attacks which was
initiated by the former Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Steve Tswete,
after a summit between the President and organised agriculture, was severely
downgraded when officials were solely involved in the public release thereof.
This is in stark contrast with the top-level involvement of politicians
and the ANC Women's League with regard to the possible execution of a Nigerian
woman.
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- TAU SA can draw no other conclusion that government does
not have the farming community's safety at heart.
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- Like other similar reports, farmers are blamed for a
lack of security measures on farms. Not a word is mentioned about Governmentís
constitutional obligation to ensure the safety of the citizenry. No reference
is made to unlawful and illegal trespassing and the blaze of theft and
arson that torment farming communities. Increasingly farmers are exposed
to taunting, provocation and intimidation which requires the utmost self-control
and discipline. The circumstances in which farmers produce food and crops
has been abnormal for a considerable period of time. Consequently, this
has had an adverse effect on reasonable actions under dangerous and unnatural
circumstances. There is little or no comprehension for the fact that access
control on farms cannot be compared to that of buildings, homesteads, shopping
malls and office buildings. Farmers have to depend on their own ability
to protect life and property while being victimised in the absence of police
intervention.
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- Political leaders in government are silent about rampant
crime. At the same time it was unilaterally decided that the Commandos
should close down. While vague and unsubstantiated references in the Human
Rights Commission Report blames the Commandos for atrocities against local
residents, more than 800 policemen were suspended for transgressions of
the law. But nobody considers disbanding the SAPS. Contrary thereto, few,
if any, Commando members have been formally charged or found guilty.
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- The question can rightly be asked whether the release
of the report will introduce improvements in rural safety or whether farmers
will still have to depend on their own security measures?
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- South Africa now needs is a government who will not only
defend commercial agriculture against unfair foreign competition but also
take decisive steps to protect human life and property against criminal
murderers, robbers and thieves.
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- TLU SA / TAU SA 194 James Avenue / Jamesrylaan 194 PO
Box 912-51 / Posbus 912-51 SILVERTON / SILVERTON 0127 / 0127
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- T: (012) 804-8031, F: (012) 804-2014, E: tluhk@lantic.net
W: www.tlu.co.za, W: rights2property.com MEDIA RELEASE
MEDIAVERKLARING Issued by: TAU SA
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- Enquiries: Mr Bennie van Zyl General Manager TAU SA Cell.
082 466 4470
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