Derek Hanekom MP, Minister of Land Affairs : Labour Tenants
Following the various concerns espressed about the position of labour tenants, I have met with representatives of labour tenants and organised agriculture to hear their views and to explore ways to resolve problems between the parties involved.
A meeting was held on 27 July 1994 with a delegation representing labour tenants (the Farmworkers Research and Resource Project, the National Land Committee, and the Legal Resources Centre). This was followed by a meeting with a delegation from the South African Agricultural Union on 12 August 1994.
In the meantime, I have also discussed the role of the SAPS with regard to the labour tenant issue in a meeting with the Minister of Safety and Security.
I am now setting up a process to bring together all the parties involved, in order to address the immediate problems facing farmers and labour tenants as a matter of urgency.
I therefore wish to call on all parties involved to exercise restraint, pending the envisaged process to jointly deal with the issues.
To solicit solutions at local level, consultations with the provinces, particularly Eastern Transvaal and KwaZulu / Natal, will be arranged as a matter of urgency.
The second step in this process wil be a meeting at national level, involving all role players, which is at present being arranged.
Issued by the Ministry of Land Affairs,
15 August 1994
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