Farmers hold meeting to discuss issues

A mass meeting of local farmers was held at the Town Hall recently to discuss issues facing farmers in the area, including the escalation of violence against farmers. The latter includes farm attacks, rapes and the poisoning of cattle.

Farmers from different areas got together with the aim of coming up with workable solutions to problems they face on a daily basis (of a less violent nature), including the cutting of fences and stock theft. Another major problem is stray cattle making their way onto farmers’ land. Currently, farmers have only one option and that is to let the cattle out of their property and onto the road. However, farmers feel they cannot do this, as it could potentially cause obstructions and accidents.

If they choose to impound animals on their farms, the rightful owners take matters into their own hands and cut farm fences to reclaim their livestock.

Farmers at the meeting had an opportunity to air their views and come up with realistic solutions. The use of intelligence-gathering options (and sources) to find out who the criminals in their areas are was highlighted.

Speaking to the farmers in attendance, security expert Mark Pitout said that taking the law into their own hands was not an option. “It will get the farmer locked up.”

The only way to overcome problems is for all farmers to work together as a team and to work hand-in-hand with the SAPS. The Dog (K9) Unit and Crime Intelligence Gathering Unit have greatly helped farmers in the past, and farmers have appealed to the police to continue assisting them.

Mark Pitout posed the question: “Does Ladysmith and the surrounding areas have a rural safety programme?” According to him, it was clear from the SAPS that they didn’t know.