It is clear to TLU SA that criminals don’t heed the lockdown regulations, and farmers are increasingly the victims of their transgressions.
There is an apparent rise in the theft of agricultural products, such as crop and stock theft, while the increase of cable theft in some areas are also frustrating farmers’ production.
“What is of further concern is the explicit prohibition of farm guards and CPF’s to continue with their regular patrols and crime prevention actions by the minister of police,” says Mr Henk van de Graaf, the chairperson of TLU SA’s Northern region. “With the police now focussing on other areas, it means that rural areas are currently unprotected. Criminals know this and are abusing the situation.”
It is worrying that the police prioritises persecuting people trying to buy alcohol or tobacco products, but does almost nothing to police the criminals threatening food security.
Farmers are advised to increase the vigilance on their farms. The power of farm guards lies in the cooperation between roleplayers, effective communication, covering more significant areas than just their own farms, as well as patrolling public roads – which are often used as escape routes. Criminals welcome these desolate areas.
“After the immense drought and the paralysing effect of foot and mouth disease on the agricultural sector, farmers cannot afford uncontrolled theft of their products because the minister of police took irrational decisions,” says Mr Van de Graaf.
“Farmers are starting to view their farms as disaster areas and will have to implement emergency measures against any suspicious trespassing or movement on their farms,” he warns. “This will not benefit anyone. We are calling on the provincial government to urgently take this up with the national government to review the existing instructions quickly. We cannot continue like this for another three weeks.”
AFRIKAANS
Dit is vir TLU SA duidelik dat misdadigers hulle nie steur aan die inperkingsregulasies nie, en boere is toenemend die slagoffer daarvan.
Daar is landwyd ‘n oënskynlike toename in diefstal van landbouprodukte, soos oes- en veediefstal, terwyl kabeldiefstal ook in sekere areas aan die toeneem is en boere se produksie frustreer.
“Wat ons verder bekommer is die feit dat plaaswagte en GPF’s uitdruklik deur die minister van polisie verbied is om met hulle normale patrollies en misdaadvoorkoming voort te gaan,” sê TLU SA se Noordstreek voorsitter, mnr. Henk van de Graaf. “Waar die polisie tans fokus op ander sake, beteken dit dat die landelike gebiede nou onbeveilig is. Misdadigers weet dit en maak misbruik van die situasie.”
TLU SA is ook bekommerd oor die polisie se fokus op onder andere mense wat drank- of tabakprodukte wil aanskaf en hulle selfs onredelik hardhandig vervolg, terwyl daar bykans geen polisiëring is van diewe wat voedselsekerheid bedreig nie.
Boere word aanbeveel om die waaksaamheid op hulle eie plase te verhoog, maar die krag in plaaswagte lê juis in die onderlinge samewerking, doeltreffende kommunikasie, die dek van groter gebiede as net die eie plaas, en deurdat openbare paaie, wat dikwels die toegangs- en wegkomroetes van misdadigers is, ook gepatrolleer word. Nou is hierdie gebiede verlate, wat die landelike diewe uiteraard verwelkom.
“Na die geweldige droogte en die landboubedryf se verlamming as gevolg van die bek- en klouseer, kan boere nie nou nog onbeheerste diefstal van hulle produkte bekostig omdat die minister van polisie irrasionele besluite neem nie,” sê mnr. Van de Graaf.
“Boere begin hulle plase nou as rampgebiede beskou, en gaan hulle eie noodmaatreëls instel teen enige verdagte betreding of beweging op die plaas,” waarsku hy. “Dit gaan tot niemand se voordeel wees nie, en ons doen ‘n beroep op die provinsiale regering om die saak dringend met die nasionale regering op te neem ten einde ‘n spoedige hersiening van bestaande opdragte in die verband te kry. Ons kan nie nog drie weke so aangaan nie.”
