TAU SA not involved in Afrikaans talks
2012-05-07 19:03
Johannesburg - The agricultural union TAU SA said on Monday that it would not be involved in the meeting between ANC leadership and Afrikaans groups.
"As long as government is not prepared to talk to us on agricultural matters, we are really not interested in behind closed doors conversations with any ANC roleplayers," TAU SA president Louis Meintjes said in a statement.
"Doing so would alienate TAU SA from its own members."
ANC leaders are reportedly scheduled to meet a group of Afrikaans-speaking academics, church leaders and representatives of cultural organisations in a closed meeting on Tuesday.
TAU SA said it had tried to meet government leaders to discuss agricultural issues.
It had tried to make appointments with President Jacob Zuma, the water affairs minister, the transport minister, with the police and the police commissioner.
"Our efforts to get any appointment were fruitless so far," said Meintjes.
"This creates, inevitably, the perception within organised agriculture that government is insensitive to the farmers and their problems."
He said the ANC had itself to blame if any alienation resulted. The only way to solve the problem was by starting to comply with the criteria of a responsible government.
"This will be the first step to restore confidence," Meintjies said.
- SAPA
