Sugarcane theft has seen a sharp increase since the start of lockdown.

The Mpumalanga MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environment, Vusi Shongwe, is concerned about this and believes that sugarcane is being used to illegally manufacture homemade beer.

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“It is unacceptable that some elements, who defy a noble call to desist from alcohol consumption during this lockdown, resort to stealing from farmers to produce alcohol,” Shongwe said.

“It takes long hours of hard labour for farmers and workers to produce sugarcane and other food from the soil, and it cannot be that their sweat is disregarded through acts of criminality,” he said.

Shongwe has committed to escalating this disturbing trend which, if left unchecked, will lead to farmers experiencing huge losses which will inevitably result in retrenchments.

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“Unless we bring an end to this thuggery, farm workers will lose their jobs, and farms will not produce adequate food for the population.

“Everyone will be affected because we all depend on farmers for the food we eat,” he warned.

“I will raise this issue with the relevant stakeholders, including the SAPS and my colleagues responsible for safety and security.

“A watertight strategy has to be developed to curb these unfortunate acts of thuggery.”

He advised farmers to be vigilant and put up legally acceptable measures to protect their farms.

“Farmers should form a strong partnership with their nearest police stations and set up forums whose sole aim is to devise mechanisms to fight crime,” he said.