When is a farmer too old?
Many people have been living on these farms their whole lives and this is the only home they know or want to know.
The year has begun on a sad and worrying note for the farming community of our region with brutal attacks and murder of elderly farmers.
On 16 January an elderly farmer and his 58-year-old companion died after being severely assaulted on their farm in the Panbult region.
Two weeks later a 90-year-old woman was tied up and robbed on her farm near Carolina. She escaped with her life.
Upon hearing the news, many people understandably react with utterances of shock and dismay at these cowardly deeds. In many cases this is soon followed by an almost desperate cry of: “Why are the old people still on the farm? It’s not safe for them on farms any longer, they should move to town.”
In answer to that one has to ask “Why not? Why can’t they stay on their farms?”
It can also be countered with the question: “When is one too old to live on a farm?” Many younger people have also fallen victim to these terrible crimes.
One fully understands that criminal elements are everywhere and precautions and safety measures must be taken by everyone, whether on a farm or in towns and cities.
Many people have been living on these farms their whole lives and this is the only home they know or want to know.
This is especially true of people who live on farms that have been in the family for many generations. Farm-life, the farmstead, the satisfaction they derive from living on their own piece of this earth is their sanctity and sanctuary.
Producing food for the markets and ultimately the consumer, as well as providing work for farm workers is the life these people chose for themselves. Surely they have the right to carry on doing what they do and love until they themselves decide to retire?
Many of these old folk are still remarkably fit and active for their age and at 70, 80 or even 90 years of age have a work rate that will out-class far younger town or city dwellers.
The age factor should not determine whether anyone should or should not be living on a farm, alone in a house or anywhere for that matter.
In a democratic society everyone has the right to live in peace and harmony at his or her place of choice.
Year after year government departments go to great lengths to implement campaigns to curb HIV and Aids, teenage pregnancy, road accident fatalities, tuberculosis, school drop-out rates and a host of other noteworthy and admirable causes.
Condemnation of police killings is expressed and commendable steps are announced to “leave no stone unturned” in the efforts to bring the perpetrators to book.
One can only trust that the same determination and effort will be exercised by the authorities in bringing to book the thugs who prey on farmers and farm workers.
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