Farm attacks and farm murders can be justified by the poor treatment of some people on farms, a statement made yesterday (28 February) in the provincial legislature by ANC Chief Whip, Hofmann Galeng.
The DA strongly condemned the statement which it saw as trying to justify the prevalence of farm murders.
“The DA condemns all violence on farms, no matter who commits it. This ludicrous justification is simply a smoke screen to hide the ANC’s failure to keep all rural communities safe, farmers and farm workers alike,” said Jacqueline Theologo, DA provincial Chief whip.
For the month of February, 17 people have been murdered on farms across the country, and 44 farms have been attacked. The latest attack in the North West occurred over the weekend when the Hough family of Zeerust was attacked on their farm.
The latest attack in the North West occurred over the weekend when the Hough family of Zeerust was attacked on their farm.
According to Theologo the DA has consistently pleaded with Government to launch special Rural Safety units to ensure rural safety, and years of broken promises on Rural Safety Units are leaving blood on the ANC’s hands.
“We would also remind the ANC that rural safety encompasses both farm workers and farmers, and their divisive tactics on this issue are a disgrace. Agricultural communities not only put food on our tables but also create much-needed jobs. Rural violence threatens our food security and therefore threatens our nation. We call upon the Premier and his cabinet to forget about wasting money on a 6m statue of Jacob Zuma, and instead urgently set about establishing Rural Safety Units,” the DA said in a statement.
The DA demanded that Galeng withdraws his statement publicly failing they will move for his censure in the Legislature.
According to Netwerk24, Galeng has denied that he was justifying the murder of farmers.
“I condemn any killing, no killing is justified. It is true that there is not good cooperation and respect between farmers and their workers. I merely humbly asked that respect must come from both black and white people,” Galeng told Netwerk24.
