Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Swartland Grain Development Group information day
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY PREMIER MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK AT THE SWARTLAND GRAIN DEVELOPMENT GROUP INFORMATION DAY, Moorreesburg, 18 March 2003
The aim of this provincial government is to establish the Western Cape as a World Class Province, which Cares for all its people. Ikapa eliHlumayo is our vehicle to achieve this goal of creating a growing Cape with a growing economy from which all the people of our province will benefit. For us to achieve this goal, we need to invest in our human capital and create the conditions that will foster economic growth and job creation.
A very important growth sector and contributor to the economy of the Western Cape is Agriculture, which generates more than 9% of job opportunities in our Province: The farming sector in the Western Cape also produces close to 20% of the national agricultural production. It is thus clear that agriculture is an important building block and a vehicle for growth for our economy in the Western Cape.
There can never be any compromise with regard to the safety of our rural communities, our farmers and our farm labourers. As a government, the Provincial Government of the Western Cape is committed to the creation of a safe and secure rural environment in which the agricultural sector can flourish. We must address issues surrounding rural safety with all the possible resources at our disposal in a targeted and orderly manner, and in this regard the Commando system has in the past played a crucial role in promoting rural safety in the Western Cape.
For this reason we have taken note of the President's announcement about the intention to phase out the SANDF Commando system. Although we understand the problems with elements of the Commando system, we believe that it is important to guard against an overly hasty reaction in this regard. It is important that the positive elements within this system be retained as it evolves into the Integrated Sector Rural Development Plan over the next six years, starting with the deployment of an intervention force, which will act as a reaction and patrol unit. The effectiveness of the new system also depends heavily on the involvement of reservists. It is therefore important that farmers and farm workers are mobilised and encouraged to get involved as reservists in the new initiative. It is important, for both better working relations between farmer and farm worker and a stable agricultural sector in the province that everyone is made aware of the benefits of a safe working and living environment. It is also important that members of the public that are currently part of the commando system get involved in the new structures in order to ensure that the transfer of skills, knowledge and the positive elements from the commando system are successfully incorporated into the new initiative.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp - 083 7789923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
18 March 2003
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