Farmers urged to report crime along the SA-Lesotho border
By Annelie Coleman
April 29, 2021 at 6:01 pm
The time has come for the citizens of Lesotho and South Africa to take hands and act against criminals surreptitiously crossing the border between the two countries.
Photo: Pixabay
The time has come for the citizens of Lesotho and South Africa to take hands and act against criminals surreptitiously crossing the border between the two countries.
This was according to Francois Wilken, president of Free State Agriculture (FSA), following a recent meeting between representatives of both countries on the matter.
The meeting was held in Zastron and attended by FSA, Sam Mashinini (Free State MEC of Police, Roads and Transport), farmers from both sides of the border, both countries’ police services and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Ficksburg community forum, Sechaba sa Ficksburg, have closed all routes through Ficksburg since 06:00 AM on Wednesday, March 17th 2021. They will maintain the closure until they receive a satisfactory response from government to their letter, directed to the Premier of the Free State, Ms Sisi Ntombela. The letter, delivered on March 2nd, demanded an urgent meeting on the provision of services and maintenance of infrastructure, in order to avert further action.
The forum represents various local bodies, including FITA (Ficksburg Taxi Association), AFASA (African Farmers’ Association of South Africa), agricultural business OVK, Setsoto Youth Development, Ficksburg Commonage Tenants, and the Ficksburg Agricultural Association.
David Rakgase an 80 year old Limpopo farmer
Image Credit: www.da.org.za
Free State Agriculture (FSA) have expressed outrage at the announcement made during the State of the Nation Address Debate, by former Minister of Agriculture Tina Joemat-Pettersson, that MK veterans will receive expropriated farms.
“This is nothing more than a repetition of Zimbabwean land policy,” said the FSA, accusing the ANC have hanging out “their Zimbabwe petticoat”.
“The government can expect strong opposition from Free State Agriculture. This statement
confirms that the bona fides of the new Expropriation Act are suspicious,” says FSA President Francois Wilken.
The group says that for the agricultural community, this statement confirms the growing risk that South Africa will follow a Zimbabwe approach to land ownership.
Expropriation bill âwill limit property rightsâ in SA
Expropriation bill âwill limit property rightsâ in SA
By Annelie Coleman
February 1, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Governmentâs call for public comment on the new Expropriation Bill has elicited a strong response from Free State Agriculture.
Photo: FW Archive
Free State Agriculture (FSA) remains vehemently opposed to certain clauses in the Expropriation Bill and seriously questions governmentâs sincerity with regard to the issue of land expropriation and ownership, according to Francois Wilken, FSA president.
Following the recent publication of governmentâs land policy, he said the new Expropriation Bill posed a real threat to all South Africansâ rights to own property.