Mbeki: Commando here to stay

2003-04-25 23:07

Jan-Jan Joubert

Lichtenburg - The commando system will not be phased out, but it will be re-organised, said President Thabo Mbeki during a visit to the North West on Friday.

Mbeki acknowledged that the government's decision about the future of commando's, which he announced during his state of the nation address on February 14 and which has led to widespread anxiety about rural safety, could have been misconstrued.

He also acknowledged that several of his cabinet colleagues could possibly not have been aware of the importance of agriculture to the wider population, but thought that farmers' interests were now acknowledged everywhere.

Mbeki is on a visit to the North West to check on the success of state projects and to talk to people at grass-roots level.

During a visit to a young farmers' project between Lichtenburg and Koster on Friday morning, Mbeki referred to safety on farms and emphasised that it is not just a question of safety or agriculture. He says the entire government is worried about it and agreed that urgent steps must be taken.

Mbeki says Charles Nqakula, minister of safety and security, is having talks with leaders of organised agriculture about practical guidelines to counter farm murders and farm violence.

"We are going to re-arrange the commando system and not phase it out. We will not leave a vacuum, because that will not help at all to counter crime in rural areas.

"The hands of the police are strengthened by co-operation from the communities and the public's assistance is welcomed", he said.

Mbeki paid homage to the role of established farmers in the transformation of agriculture and agreed with a speech made by Jannie Serfontein, chicken farmer from Potchefstroom, that the high costs in the agriculture sector should be investigated.

Mbeki also welcomed the present trend of young farmers entering the agricultural sector and asked the Land Bank to make sure that it's client base becomes more youthful.

- Beeld