Farmers 'used as scapegoats'

2007-02-04 20:34

Johannesburg - Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana is using farmers as easy scapegoats for all the problems within the South African agriculture environment, said the Democratic Alliance on Sunday.

Spokesperson Maans Nel said Xingwana blatantly had been carrying out negotiations with various parties in the media instead of resolving her dispute with the two unions, AgriSA and TAU SA.

This follows comments made by the minister last year that violence against women and children in the sector was rife, and also accusing farmers of inhumanely evicting workers.

'Continuous battle'

On one occasion, the two unions walked out of a meeting with the minister after she allegedly refused to speak to them in private.

The meeting was held on January 26 this year.

"The continuous battle between the minister and the unions, all of whom play a vital role in South Africa's agriculture, is threatening the success of President Mbeki's proposed strategic plan aimed at creating a unified, co-operative agricultural environment," said Nel.

- SAPA