Agri SA, ministers to meet

2003-08-22 10:59

Cape Town - Agri SA is set to meet Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula and Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota on Tuesday to discuss the report on farm attacks.

The release of the report was delayed because Nqakula and Justice Minister Penuell Maduna were "not satisfied with certain aspects" of it.

Agri SA spokesperson Kobus Visser said on Friday his organisation wanted to discuss the contents of the report as leaked to the media.

"We want to discuss disclosure of information in the report as leaked to the Beeld newspaper," he said.

Beeld on Friday said - based on a copy of a section of the report in its possession - that the main motive for farm attacks was robbery. Racial hatred also played a significant role.

There had also been farm attacks with a political undertone, but these were in the minority, the newspaper said.

Visser said the delay in the release of the farm attack report called into question the independence of the committee that compiled it.

"We are disappointed that the minister would see fit to refer the report back to an independent committee. This action casts doubt on the integrity of the report."

The minister was unhappy with certain recommendations made in the report, he said.

Tuesday's meeting will take place in Pretoria.

Explaining the delay in the release of the farm attack report, Nqakula's spokesperson, Leslie Xinwa, said the ministers wanted to "engage the committee of inquiry, who compiled the report, on certain issues".

"They (the ministers) did not specify what the problem was exactly. They just said they want to meet with the committee and discuss the issues," he said.

Xinwa could not say when the report would be released.

The report was commissioned in March 2001 by former safety and security minister, the late Steve Tshwete, after farmers' union Agri SA asked for an investigation into the motives for the attacks.

According to estimates by Agri SA, violent robberies and murders on farms increased 11% between 1991 and 2001.

It also estimated that 7 424 attacks took place between 1991 and June this year, and 1 344 people were killed during the same period.

- SAPA