MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
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Inkatha Freedom Party Statement By:
1 November 2007 In recent weeks the Minister and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs have insulted farming communities across the country by making numerous sweeping allegations that farmers are guilty of evicting farm workers illegally. The Deputy Minister, Dirk du Toit, even warned in Parliament that - "Those people who don't want to hear, we are not only going to take them to court, we are going to also take their land away from them." In 2006 similar allegations by Minister Lulu Xingwana caused a major rift between herself and farmer's organisations. Farmers battled to hold onto their markets in Great Britain and Europe because of the negative image caused by Xingwana's statements. But yesterday, the Minister and Deputy Minister's misinformation and bad faith was exposed. Replying to my question in the National Assembly, the following shocking facts emerged - * Deputy Minister du Toit could NOT provide Parliament with ANY figures relating to illegal farm evictions. * Mr du Toit could not even provide any details about his alleged group of troublemakers who are supposedly guilty of illegally evicting farm workers. The Minister and Deputy Minister have now both been effectively exposed as opportunists who abuse their positions to insult, belittle and alienate the farming community as being troublemakers, bullies and criminals. I urgently appeal to the Minister and Deputy Minister to take notice that - * Mr du Toit's outburst in the National Assembly against the farming community was unfounded since the Deputy Minister has no proof at all of evictions. * We call on the Minister and Deputy Minister in future to first obtain and confirm facts and figures before making such alarmist, unsubstantiated and untrue accusations. * Even if it can be proved that 1% or 2% of farmers in this country are guilty of illegally evicting farm workers, then there is definitely no room for irresponsible generalisations to insult the whole farming community. In all barrels you will find bad apples. * The Minister and Deputy Minister should now urgently start to improve their relationship with South Africa's farmers. It is time for the ministry to recognise the precious value of farmers and their massive contribution in terms of food production and providing a livelihood for thousands of farm workers. The fact of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of farmers are living in harmony with farm workers and are working together to build a better South Africa.
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