Plaasaanvalle is ‘n saak van nasionale belang en die VF Plus het daarom ‘n beroep op die Suid-Afrikaanse Rugby Unie (SARU) gedoen dat die nasionale span Saterdag met die rugbytoets teen Nieu-Seeland ‘n wit lint uit solidariteit met die landbougemeenskap dra, sê dr. Pieter Groenewald, leier van die VF Plus.
In sy versoek aan SARU wys dr. Groenewald daarop dat plaasaanvalle en -moorde vroeër vanjaar in die parlement as ‘n saak van ‘dringende openbare belang’ gedebatteer is wat voedselsekerheid in die gedrang bring en daarom ‘n direkte impak op al die inwoners van die land het, wit en swart.
Volgens dr. Groenewald toon beskikbare statistiek aan dat daar sedert Januarie vanjaar al meer as sestig mense in meer as 277 aanvalle op plase vermoor is. Dit is veel meer as die sowat vyftig mense wat verlede jaar in 457 aanvalle vermoor is aangesien die nou eers begin Oktober is.
“Niemand in die land kan die desperate situasie van die landbougemeenskap ontken nie. Selfs die minister van polisie, Fikile Mbalula, toevallig die vorige minister van sport, het onlangs gesê landelike veiligheid moet geprioritiseer word in ‘n poging om landbouers te beskerm.
“Die VF Plus vra daarom dat almal in die land, ongeag hul politieke oortuiging, Saterdag ‘n wit lint op die bors dra.
“Dit is om te wys dat hierdie veldtog niks met politiek te make het nie, maar uit erkenning dat ‘n groep mense wat onontbeerlik is vir die suksesvolle voortbestaan van die land en sy mense onder beleg is en almal se steun nodig het,” sê dr. Groenewald.
Kontaknommers: 083 627 4397 / 065 801 7216
Hier volg die skrywe aan SARU
TO: The President
SA Rugby (SARU)
Mark Alexander
Cc: The Chief Executive Officer
SA Rugby (SARU)
Jurie Roux
By e-mail: ronel@sarugby.co.za
Dear Mr. Alexander
White Ribbons against Farm Attacks
As you are aware, farm attacks and farm murders are a national concern. Earlier this year a debate in Parliament on farm murders took place as a matter of urgent national interest. In South Africa, there have been more than 277 attacks in which more than 60 people were killed since January 2017.
According to Police statistics during 2016, 50 farmers were murdered in 457 farm attacks. This amounted to more than one farm attack per day.
Recently the South African government in the form of the Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, indicated that the police will prioritise rural safety in an effort to end farm attacks in rural areas. He also confirmed the importance of our farmers to ensure food security in South Africa.
Regarding the aforementioned facts, it is clear that farm attacks represent a serious threat towards the safety, security and livelihoods of our farmers and farm workers, who contribute to the food security of the country.
You will agree that farm attacks and murders are a ticking time bomb that not only needs urgent attention from government but remains a social problem that needs to be brought under the attention of a country that cannot afford to lose one farmer in terms of food security and job creation.
Considering that farmers also represent a mayor support-base of SA rugby as well as the Springbok team, I wish to request officially that the Springboks wear white ribbons/bands on their arms during the forthcoming Champions Trophy match in Cape Town on Saturday, 7 October 2017 in support of efforts to stop farm attacks and murders.
Furthermore, the Freedom Front Plus also requests SARU to encourage Springbok Supporters who attend the match to do the same in support of the concerted campaigns against rural attacks.
I trust SA Rugby will kindly consider this request favourably.
Yours sincerely
Dr Pieter Groenewald, MP
Leader of the Freedom Front Plus.
Cell : 083 627 4397
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