The hearts of Saai and its members across South Africa go out to the farmers in the Hertzogville area who have lost livestock, pastures, fences and other infrastructure, income of assets in the destructive fires that raged in the area between Christina, Hoopstad, Dealsville and Bultfontein.
Although the losses are still to be determined, damages have already reached disastrous proportions. Several hundred cattle, sheep and game burnt to death or were so mutilated that they had to be put down.
Saai hopes and pressurises the government into providing disaster relief, but government has a poor recent track record of discrimination, fraud and nepotism in terms of disaster relief. Saai will work together with as many network partners as possible to organise farmer-to-farmer assistance and to support families to help them to stay on their farms.
There are alarming reports that the fires started as a result of burning tyres during service delivery protests on the R708 road between Hertzogville and Christiana. The SAPS faces a major challenge in Hertzogville to investigate and prosecute to the same extent as with the Senekal charges and prosecutions for the sake of trust and legitimacy. If the legal process is not perceived to enforce responsibility and accountability, the integrity and stability of the whole polity is being undermined.
Farmers from elsewhere in the country who can provide support in the form of fodder or other resources, or sympathisers who want to contribute to the transportation of fodder to the disaster area can contact Saai at 066 071 6094.
Relief will be provided to farmers in cooperation with all interested and willing organisations in a non-discriminating, transparent manner, regardless of the farmers’ affiliations, membership, race, political preferences, church or language group. Anyone who know of serious need in the area can bring it to Saai’s attention.
Dringende hulp benodig ná Hertzogville-brande
Die harte van Saai en sy lede van oor die hele Suid-Afrika heen gaan uit na die boere in die Hertzogville-omgewing wat vee, weiding, lyndrade en ander infrastruktuur, inkomste of bates in die vernietigende brande in die omgewing tussen Christina, Hoopstad, Dealsville en Bultfontein verloor het.
Hoewel die verliese moet nog bepaal moet word, neem die skade al rampafmetings aan. Etlike honderde beeste, skape en wild het doodgebrand of is só vermink dat hulle van kant gemaak moet word.
Saai hoop en druk vir ramphulp van die staat, maar die regering het ’n jammerlike resente baanrekord van diskriminasie, bedrog en nepotisme wat ramphulpverlening betref. Saai sal met soveel moontlik netwerkvennote saamspan om boer-tot-boer-hulp te organiseer en families te ondersteun sodat hulle op hul plase kan bly.
Daar is ontstellende bewerings dat dié brand weens betogings oor dienslewering en brandende buitebande op die R708-pad tussen Hertzogville en Christiana ontstaan het. Die SAPD staar ’n groot uitdaging in die gesig om in die lig van die Senekal-vervolgings en ‑aanklagte ook ter wille van vertroue en legitimiteit ewehandig in die ondersoeke en vervolgings in Hertzogville op te tree. As die regsproses nie gesien word om verantwoordelikheid en aanspreeklikheid af te dwing nie, word die integriteit en stabiliteit van die hele staatsbestel ondermyn.
Boere van elders in die land wat met voer of ander hulpmiddele kan help, of simpatiseerders wat bydraes vir die vervoer na die rampgebied kan maak, kan Saai by 066 071 6094 kontak.
Hulpverlening sal in samewerking met alle belangstellende en gewillige organisasies op ’n niediskriminerende en ’n oopboekgrondslag aan geaffekteerde boere gaan, ongeag hul affiliasie, lidmaatskap, ras, politieke voorkeure, kerk of taalgroep. Enigeen wat bewus is van knellende nood in dié gebied kan dit onder Saai se aandag bring.
