Government needs to act on farm murders: FEDUSA
The South African Parastatal and Tertiary Institutions Union (SAPTU) has called on government to act decisively to stop ruthless farm murders.
SAPTU is an affiliate of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) in the agricultural sector.
The union says it has noted with great concern that 11 people were killed on farms in the first 14 days of February this year alone, averaging one murder a day.
FEDUSA's Dennis George says it believes that it is time the state delved deeper into the real causes of farm killings, rather than just treating it as common crime, or a way of dealing with the thorny land reform issue.
"Our agricultural community is a strategically important component that ensures stability by being putting food on everyone's table," says George.
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"We strongly feel that regardless of our difference, the ongoing attacks on farmers will not help bring any solution. We need to escalate this problem and engage our government and encourage all citizens to unite and strongly condemn these killings," says George.
This sentiment was echoed by SAPTU's leadership.
"It is SAPTU's submission that the safety situation on farms has now become a national priority and that all role-players including government must now act to avoid an extremely explosive situation and to stop the infringement of the right of life of farmers," says Ben van der Walt, SAPTU General Secretary.