DUE to the increased number of attacks and murders in farming and rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal, the KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), handed over a Safety and Security Memorandum to the SAPS.
The Kwanalu president, Phenias Gumede, said, “We have been at the forefront of calling for stronger action, more manpower and resources and have acted proactively for quite some time around the issues which have recently escalated.”
The memorandum outlines the commitment by Kwanalu, together with the rural and farming communities of KZN, to the revised National Rural Safety Strategy (NRSS) within which the rural and farming communities of KZN and the police are key role players.
“We want to clearly state our position on safety and security in farming and rural areas relating to the National Rural Safety Strategy (NRSS) – the foundation upon which our sector stands when it comes to safety and security. We now demand urgent and immediate attention and action on the agreed National Rural Safety,” said Gumede.
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The NRSS is a partnership approach between farming and rural communities.
SAPS is urged to maintain joint white/blue light patrols, awareness campaigns, simulation exercises, regular and frequent visits to farms as well as efficient mobilisation and offer support during rural and farm attacks and apprehend offenders as quickly as possible.
Following the handover of the memorandum, Kwanalu spoke to South Africa’s leading safety and security industry role-players on rural and community safety, public prosecutions, stray cattle on public roads, fuel theft, stock theft and endangered species, hunting with dogs and land invasion issues.
“We want to unify all farmers and rural land owners, their associations, commodity groups and all agri-business stakeholders within our province. One of the ways in which we achieve this is through engaging government and stakeholders, at all levels, to inform and influence meaningful change. We are very pleased with the outcome of the webinar and look forward to working even more closely with the SAPS on the NRSS,” said Kwanalu CEO, Sandy La Marque.
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