Why would farmers shoot?

The Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana has stated that farmers fire shots at labour inspectors or that the latter are assaulted by them. He said this at the combined policy conference of the department and the International Labour Organisation held this week in Pretoria.

TAU SA challenges the minister not to make vague accusations, but to supply dates, times and locations where such incidents happened. It is highly suspicious that such cases would happen without police arriving in force shortly thereafter to arrest the suspect farmers. Therefore TAU SA demands that the minister supply case numbers of charges made against farmers at police stations where the cases were reported.

When the minister states that he is fed-up with conferences producing no results, TAU SA is equally fed-up with vague accusations and generalisations leveled against farmers. “If the minister’s labour inspectors were to be issued with bullet proof jackets, it will probably be due to their concerns of becoming victims of robbery and high-jacks which is a plague to all,” Mr Ben Marais, president of TAU SA said.

“Farmers are equally fed-up with tresspassers, thieves and murderers. A protocol is in place which prescribes procedures for anybody wishing to visit a farm and the departments’ compliance with the protocol will prevent misunderstandings whilst ensuring mutual respect and cooperation,” Marais said.

When making unsubstantiated statements like this, the minister is doing nothing to improve the relationship between farmers and officials. In fact, he is promoting a new form of racism.