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"One death is one death too many"

Date: 03 October 2003 By: 

LEVUBU – The MEC for Safety and Security in the Limpopo Province, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, this week issued a stern warning to all groups and individuals to refrain from terrorising landowners and farmers.

Ms Magadzi reacted to observations by local residents that land claim issues seem to be a factor in the spate of violent attacks on members of the farming community, in which a prominent and well-respected farmer, Mr Piet de Jager, was killed last weekend. She said one death is one death too many. Government, Ms Magadzi said, will not tolerate such actions and such perpetrators must know that they will be brought to book and do not stand to gain anything from their violent action. She said the land issue will be orderly regulated by the relevant laws and no harassment of landowners will be tolerated. She added that the farming community must be left in peace to dedicate their energy and expertise to producing the necessary food and fibre, which the country desperately needs to fulfil its role and calling in Africa.

Ms Magdazi promised to further investigate indications that certain political groupings and organisations might have a hand in the seemingly organised victimisation of prominent landowners and attacks against anybody who dares take a stand in the local CPF against crime. These people are targeted and attacked. Several speakers indicated serious leakages of discussions held in the CPF and called attention to the more than three years of reluctance by the Levubu SAPS to react effectively on charges and information brought to them by the public.

Ms Magadzi visited the bereaved family of Mr De Jager and offered her condolences. A bouquet of flowers was handed to Mrs De Jager on behalf of the SAPS and the MEC's office.

At the Levubu SAPS's office, Ms Magadzi and senior police officers from the area and provincial offices met with local residents and representatives of the local CPF. She expressed her shock at the brutal murder of a well-respected member of the community and a productive farmer. She admitted that the situation at Levubu was unacceptable, that the official response so far, fell short of reasonable expectations and announced that immediate steps would be taken to rectify the alleged shortcomings at the local SAPS office. She said that no police office in the province could rightfully claim that they do not have the necessary resources to execute their duties. Ms Magadzi said the various police stations do not operate in isolation and should co-ordinate their actions in a meaningful way. There are enough vehicles and manpower available.

"Claims about a lack of resources are poor excuses for a lack of good management," she said. She promised an additional vehicle for the usage of police reservists, when they are activated.

Ms Magadzi paid homage to the extremely important role of the community of the Levubu area in the province's food production capacity, and said the country cannot prosper and take its rightful role in Africa without the important contribution of the farming fraternity in producing food and fibre for the nation. "Farmers should be able to farm without intimidation or fear," she said. The MEC was presented with a comprehensive framework for co-ordinated, well-organized professional action by police, as well as civil and SANDF elements, in safeguarding the community against violent crimes. She said she was excited by the plans of the community and their determination to get everybody to work together. Ms Magadzi emphasised the importance of creating an environment in which crime will not be a viable option. The whole community and also the schools should be involved in creating this environment. Neighbouring communities should be regarded as real neighbours.

"We will have to realise that all of us are in fact our brothers' keepers. With such an approach, we can meet the challenge successfully," Ms Magadzi said.

 
 
 

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