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Benjamin Botha said he was there to protest against farm killings, gender-based violence and gangsterism. (Ashraf Hendricks, GroundUp)
- Farmers and supporters marched to Parliament on Sunday.
- They protested the farm killings and farm fires.
- Their pleas included asking for more surveillance and patrolling of the farms.
Some 300 farmers and supporters gathered outside Parliament on Sunday to protest the killings and farm fires. Clutching white crosses, a group marched towards Parliament chanting “die boere kom!” (The farmers are coming!) While others arrived on motorcycles and in their cars.
In July, a similar protest took place, according to GroundUp.
“Farmers are the reason we have bread and butter. Why we have food. Why we have meat. They are the heart and soul of the country,” said Justin Taylor, a supporter who arrived on a motorcycle.
He said he was there to oppose the farm killings. Taylor said more surveillance and patrol is needed.
The government was targeting gangsterism and train sabotage, but “we have not seen any act of law enforcement on farmland,” he said. According to AfriForum, there were an estimated 57 murders on farms in 2019. our country, “said Ivan Meyer, MEC of Agriculture of the Western Cape. Addressing the crowd, he said that agriculture plays an important role in the South African economy, and” an attack on a farmer or farm worker is an attack on the South African economy. ”
Meyer said President Cyril Ramaphosa should be concerned about attacks on farms “because the murder of a farm in South Africa compromises food security and political stability on the African continent.” “Our hearts are bleeding,” he said. “Mr. President, stop the attacks on farms in South Africa right now!”
Jannie Meyer, convenor of the protest, said: “I want people to take us seriously. We are not here to fight. I want the president and all the heads of political parties to understand that we must unite, unite and solve this problem.” amicably “.
He said he was not part of any organization, but wanted the government to treat agricultural killings, agricultural fires and threats as “priority crimes.”
