Hlokomelo Mabogale
The Deputy President David ‘DD’ Mabuza has expressed his “shock and dismay” on the allegedly brutal murder of farmers, Glen and Vida Rafferty. The couple is reported to have been murdered on their farm, in Normadien in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend.
The farm attacks are no stranger in South Africa, Mabuza has, in the past, condemned violent attacks on farmers and people in rural farming communities, stressing the importance of the agricultural sector to the economy of South Africa.
“Value famers and workers”, he called upon all South Africans and urged them to be “relentless” in pursuit of a better country wherein all people lived in “dignity and at peace with one another”.
Furthermore, Mabuza believes that the country must remain resolute.
Is there a solution to the farm attacks? Mabuza will be convening the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Lan Reform and Agriculture as a Chairperson of the Committee on Friday and that is when he will be looking at the specific programmes aimed at curbing “violent attacks” on farmers which has “negative impact of food production and security.”
Mabuza said “The lives of farmers, farm workers and farm dwellers as well as every citizen of the country, black and white, matters, it is for this reason that government will continue to work with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster to ensure prevention as a priority in dealing with farm murders.”
He called on the police service to conduct thorough investigations and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to book to ensure that justice is served for the victims.
