Land grabs not on - Nqakula

2004-09-28 08:14

Charles Smith

Gariep Dam - Those in South who simply want to grab land and attack farmers will face the full force of justice, warned Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula.

"Farmers fear that their land will be taken. I can assure you, I have a mandate to ensure this country's safety and security.

"The government will ensure the laws are enforced. No one's land will be grabbed," he said during a conference with farmers and business people in the region.

"Only the government can seize land, but this will never happen in a harsh way. The people have to be spoken to.

"A lot of land has changed hands in South Africa, but not in one single case was land seized."

Attacks on farmers and farm workers could not be tolerated, he said.

The country expected the farming communities to produce food.

The enforcement of safety and security had to include everyone, including the farmers and their workers.

Prepared to help others

Nqakula said he was thankful to learn of people that came to the aid of others. He said farmers were doing their bit for development.

The Free State farmers were some of the first to help developing ones, and others in the Western Cape already had transferred farms.

"It goes to show that there are many South Africans who are prepared to help others.

"There are sometimes loud noises of racism, but I don't think it's true. People worked together at grass-roots level long before 1994."

- Volksblad