GALLERY: Cyril, we need to know
“This is the time of angels and the time for monsters is over” President Cyril Ramaphosa told the Haenertsburg farmers and business owners in an exclusive meeting at Yellow Wood Cottage on Monday morning.
The purpose of the meeting was for the local community to express their challenges and concerns to the president.
Issues which were discussed were land distribution, crime management, the gap in education, unemployment, infrastructure, power cuts, water permits and the poor state medical facilities.
“We need to know how long the land distribution process will take and how we can solve it. Most farmers have questions and fears whether they will still be able to own their inherited farms in the next 10 years,” asked Trevor Phillips, Haenertsburg Community Representative.
Phillips also explained how the economy of the area is badly affected by the increased crime activities in the area. The avocado and macadamia nut farms and timber companies are the worst hit by theft.
He further wanted to understand how Ramaphosa can come in and assist them with the issue of unemployment, power cuts in the area, improving the educational gap between public and private schools, amongst other issues.
The President assured the community that the country is heading towards a great future and they should not live in fear because, “the time of angels is emerging and the time of monsters is dying” he kept emphasising.
“We should all work towards finding solutions in inclusivity and that is the only way we can take this country forward”, he explained.
He also explained how the land distribution process is now in the hands of parliament, but it should be done in a constitutional way and the process should still make sure there is food security and the agricultural sector is not negatively affected.
Some of the guests who graced the occasion included, MEC for Agriculture, Biyisikopo Makamu; Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni; Godwin Mashamba and the executive Mayor of Mopani District Municipality, Nkakareng Rakgoale with all of her four local mayors except for Maruleng; The Van Zyl brothers of the ZZ2 Farming Community and many other big farmers in the district.
Ramaphosa was impressed by the diversity of the attendants and passed words of gratitude to hosts Loise Claassen and Garry Wilkeson.
More than anything the atmosphere in the room was of calmness and after his speech the president had a quick photo-shoot with the locals before leaving.
