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Date: 19/06/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Stellenbosch Agricultural Society


EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING THE STELLENBOSCH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, Stellenbosch, 19 June 2003

PREMIER ADDRESSES FARMING CONCERNS: BOLAND TO RECEIVE MORE THAN 1000 NEW POLICE

The question of safety and security for our farming communities is one of the issues, which our Provincial Government is determined to address in the Western Cape. As an ongoing problem across South Africa, it remains one of the highest priorities of both organised agriculture and of government.

In comparing the figures for the past few years, it is apparent that Western Cape farms, farmers, and farm workers are not as widely threatened by farm attacks as some of their counterparts in other provinces - with levels of Western Cape farm attacks the fourth lowest in South Africa. This is encouraging but hardly a cause for celebration when one attack is one too many.

Our Provincial Government knows that one of the biggest obstacles to increasing the safety of farming communities in our rural areas is a shortage of police manpower. It has been estimated that small SAPS stations require a minimum of 12 staff to operate effectively, with larger stations operating on a 24-hour basis requiring at least 25 personnel. With 65 stations in the Boland region, it has therefore been acknowledged that the region has had a shortage of about 211 SAPS staff - or an average shortage of 42%.

I am therefore particularly pleased to announce that by the end of September next year, more than 1000 additional police officers will be have been deployed to the Boland region alone. They will be part of more than 6000 new SAPS members who we are adding to police our streets - 3200 almost immediately, with a further 2850 recruits who will be trained and deployed before the end of this financial year.

These new officers have the potential to make a massive impact on the levels of crime and violence in our communities, but the key to real safety and security in rural areas lies in more than just a greater police presence. In our farming communities, it is often as important for the other components of the rural safety net to also be functioning and well-supported. These components range from security awareness and training courses like those run so successfully by the Hex Valley Producers Association, to the SANDF's commando system.

In spite of its many shortcomings, the Commando system has, in the Western Cape, played a very important role in rural safety - especially in terms of rapid reaction times to assist and support the SAPS. With the announcement by the President in February that this system is to be replaced, we know that there have been concerns raised in our farming communities Although we understand the criticism of elements of the Commando system, we believe that it is important to guard against an overly hasty process in this regard. What is important is to retain the positive elements within this system when it is replaced. We must not replace the current system before we know exactly what will replace it, which could allow a security vacuum to develop, and in this regard we need a proper and thorough process of consultation with all stakeholders - especially farmers and farm-workers. We have already engaged with National Government on this issue, and will continue to raise our concerns with regard to this issue in the Western Cape.

On almost every front, from increasing the numbers of police, to negotiating a reasonable alternative to the commandos, to focusing on crime hotspots, to opening new courts and using joint actions by the SAPS, SANDF and agencies like the Scorpions to tackle organised crime head-on, the critical difference is being made by the new cooperation and coordination between our NNP/ANC coalition government and national and local government.

We must show, in the Western Cape, how coloured, black, white and Indian communities succeed best when working together, and nowhere is there more opportunity for this to be demonstrated than in our farming communities. We know that many initiatives have already been undertaken by farmers and organised agriculture in this regard, but it is important for this to be expanded and for the relationship to be further strengthened between farmers and farm-workers.

Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
19 June 2003

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