Mbalula hell-bent on curbing crime on farms

The minister briefed the media on Wednesday following a meeting with AgriSA.

"Agriculture plays an important role in uplifting our economy. So when we talk about safety, we talk about production. We talk about rural safety for us to reap the fruits of what we are talking about in relation to the economy and job creation," Mbalula explains.

He says the police, the police ministry and AgriSA are mapping out a national rural safety strategy.

"It is our programme of action to ensure there is safety in the rural areas and we protect our farmers and equally there is law and order and accessibility to the police. We need to sharpen our approach with regards to safety in rural areas. We have a rural safety strategy which we have adopted and will put into practice."

He says farmers have a role to play in curbing crime.

"We have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding as part of the finalisation of the rural safety strategy. We have agreed that in the coming week AgriSA and Saps and the police ministry will meet to map out a concrete plan of action that is going to speak to operational and policy issues."

Mbalula says not all farmers are racist.

"There will be from time to time episodes which play itself out as racist attacks, but we must understand that the majority of our farmers are not racist. They are loyal South Africans who have dedicated their lives to production to make it a point that our country and our economy flourishes. There are rotten potatoes who play themselves out in different episodes which we condemn, but that is not the total reflection of the farming community."

AgriSA executive director Omri van Zyl says the minister's commitment is encouraging.

"Our job is to produce food, create food security and ensure that there is economic prosperity. Our farming communities are going through tough times and I think this partnership will help lift the spirits and sense of security we have in our country and in rural areas."

He says the partnership is about creating a safer country.

"This boils down to creating a safer South Africa and creating an environment where farmers and South Africans can reinvest in the economy."