DEAR Editor,-
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal strongly condemns the farm attack that occurred on a farm in Mtwalume, South Coast, last weekend.
The attack, which took place over an alleged land claims dispute, resulted in a farm manager being thrown into a fire.
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The DA has repeatedly called on national and provincial government to take land reform seriously and dedicate necessary resources towards this issue, as well as that of spatial justice.
That the ANC-led government is not taking land reform seriously is evident when one considers that it spends more on VIP security than on this critical mandate.
In addition to re-prioritising land reform, the DA urges government to step up safety in rural areas.
Repeatedly, the DA has provided a number of practical solutions to keep our farmers and rural communities safer, including:
* Establishing rural safety units similar to the old commando system;
* Providing state-subsidised citizen band radio networks;
* Establishing a dedicated provincial rural safety directorate within SAPS, and
* Recording farm attacks and farm murders as separate statistics.
Rural areas are under attack and more needs to be done to protect communities and farmers.
The DA will utilise the upcoming provincial budgeting process to again call on KZN Agriculture MEC Sithole-Moloi to dedicate necessary resources towards rural safety.
Our rural communities deserve to be treated fairly.
CHRIS PAPPAS, MPL
DA KZN Spokesman on Agriculture and Rural Development
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