Government condemns farmer’s alleged killing of dwellers
The recent killing of two people, who were allegedly shot dead by a farmer on Bampoen Farm, has caused an uproar in the community.
According to police, the farmer in question has been arrested along with three others and are due to appear in court.
The two victims are said to have been part of a community protest against abuse of farm dwellers on Bampoen Farm. Politicians and civic organisations are calling for harsher punishment for the suspects.
The provincial MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, has welcomed the swift arrest of the suspects.
Shongwe condemned the incident, saying it was high time that farm owners, regardless of their skin colour, respected the rights of all farming community members.
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“No person is allowed to respond to any protest by killing others. The police should work around the clock to ensure that justice prevails in this case. The country is celebrating 27 years of democracy and ideally we want all communities to harmoniously live together, black or white,” said Shongwe.
He said the attack on labourers or farm dwellers has a potential of fuelling violence, which is why government was doing all it could to ensure peace, harmony and stability in the farming communities, through initiatives such as rural safety strategy. The Provincial Legislature’s chief whip, Fidel Mlombo, has also expressed outrage at the killing of the two people.
“This farmer’s disdain against black farm dwellers is well documented, as he is the same farmer who is alleged to have poisoned 14 cows belonging to black farm dwellers in June. We condemn this obnoxious act, as it flies against the face of the new Land Audit Report release on the same day of the murder, that shows land injustices in South Africa against black Africans who continue to live a life of squalid conditions, being treated like slaves on farms and having their livestock poisoned and killed by farmers,” said Mlombo.
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The MEC for agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, Mandla Msibi, said, “We have confi dence in our police for a watertight case, and we also believe that our judicial system will handle the matter accordingly and that justice will prevail. Sadly, this incident happens as the country commemorates the 27th year since we attained democracy, but such incidents clearly undermines our freedom and the Constitution which stipulates that everyone has the right to live.”
