Farmers slam 'hate speech'
2007-02-02 19:22
Bloemfontein - Free State farmers have accused Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana of hate speech over her allegations of worker abuse, and widespread, inhumane evictions in the industry.
"She is accusing us of murder, rape and evictions," Free State Agriculture president Louw Steytler said on Friday.
"If this is not hate speech, I do not know what is," he told farmers at a Free State Agriculture regional meeting in Bloemfontein.
Free State safety and security department head Jack Klaas had made similar "unverified statements" during a local agricultural conference.
"Not one of the incidents he mentioned has been found to be true," said Steytler.
Klaas had alleged that: a Free State farmer pulled a worker behind his bakkie; farm worker's identity documents were being confiscated; and racial sign boards were being erected at farm entrances.
"In all my time as president and deputy-president of Free State Agriculture, five eviction incidents had been identified and handled satisfactorily in conjunction with all role players," said Steytler.
Xingwana's accusations were generalisations which would manifest themselves in criminal deeds not only in the agricultural sector but in larger society, he said.
They went against the basic principles of the Constitution and "what we want to achieve in the country".
The minister could not be allowed to get away with her accusations, said Steytler, assuring farmers that organised agriculture, on a national level, was looking into the matter.
He added that preparations were well advanced for a possible court case by Free State Agriculture against the government over the violation of the human rights of farmers on the Lesotho border.
- SAPA