Issued by: Communication Information Service
The seriousness of the continued attacks against the rural community, especially the farming community in South Africa and the urgency of confronting the issued have led President Mandela to call for a Summit to formulate a comprehensive strategy to deal with the problem. The Summit aims to achieving both consensus around a future process to deal with the issue as well as the strengthening of existing strategies and the development of further action plans for immediate implementation. The resolutions of the Summit are as follows:
1. We, from all sectors of the farming and rural community, government and business, unconditionally condemn the spate of senseless killings and other forms of criminal activity affecting farming and rural communities. We are collectively determined to bring an end to these crimes.
2. We recognize that the causes of attacks on farming and rural communities specifically, and the cause of rural crime more generally, are complex and multi-faceted. As in the case of crime in South Africa these contributing factors include a culture of violence and impunity, contempt for the law, the number and availability of illegal and legal firearms, as well as the socio-economic problems such as the high levels of unemployment and poverty in rural and urban areas. The Summit therefore recognizes the fact that a security approach alone will not solve the problem of crime in the rural areas in the longer term. Thorough research into the probable causes and motives needs to be completed in order to develop proper preventative strategies. Hate speech and inflammatory pronouncements in whatever form and from whatever quarter should not be tolerated.
3. Of immediate importance in curbing attacks on the farming and rural community is effective law enforcement. The Summit accepts that the Rural Protection Plan should be utilized as the operational strategy to combat and prevent violent crimes against the farming and rural community. All legitimate private sector initiatives aimed at protecting the farming and rural communities should be incorporated within the framework of the Rural Protection Plan and its structures. This includes the development of adequate strategies for the protection of all farm dwellings. It is however agreed that a number of deficiencies of the Rural Protection Plan have been identified during the Summit which include inter alia the need to encourage participation of the relevant roleplayers and the necessity for the restructuring and/or activation of components of the Rural Protection Plan.
4. We also recognize that to ensure effectively safety in the farming and rural communities require maximum participation from all roleplayers at national, provincial and local level. We agree that all initiatives to ensure greater safety and security, in particular the Rural Protection Plan need to be more inclusive of all people in the farming and rural communities by inter alia strengthening and expanding the commandos and reservists so that they become more accessible to the whole rural community. We are of the view that one of the keys to achieve safer farming area is to continue to build and maintain good relations and improved living and working conditions between farmers, farm workers, tenants and their surrounding communities and the formation of representative civil structures at local level for interaction and conflict resolution.
5. The Summit is of the view that organized agriculture, agri-business, non-governmental and community organizations, government and other relevant roleplayers including churches, schools and trade unions must co-operate where possible and appropriate in mobilizing resources to meet the identified needs aimed at enhancing rural safety. Such funds must also be utilized to promote the education, development and economic empowerment of all farm dwellers.
6. Government commits itself to continued improvements including adequate funding, harmonization in the operation and functioning of the agencies of the Criminal Justice System to ensure an effective system of deterrence in rural areas. In particular, the rooting out of corruption will continue to receive priority through the adequate resourcing and operation of anti-corruption units and other anti-corruption instruments of the Government. The Summit also recognizes that the skill and quality of people working in the Criminal Justice System need to be upgraded.
7. The Summit recognizes that clarity is required in relation to the number of legal issues. Discussions between the representatives of organized agriculture, other interest groups, Government and farm workers will aim to clarify and consolidate the relevant legal position with regards to the rights of victims and potential victims in the farming and rural community. This process will include the identification and investigation of any shortcomings in the relevant legislation and in the Victim Empowerment Program. The results of this investigation will be published and widely distributed.
8. Given the range of causal factors and motives contributing to attacks on the farming and rural community, it is recognized that an ongoing process of information collection and analysis must be conducted. This was again highlighted in the report "Attacks on Farms and Smallholdings" by Assistant Commissioner Suiker Britz. The Summit recognizes that thorough and well analyzed information has to be gathered in the shortest possible time to assist with the planning of both preventative and law enforcement responses, as well countering perceptions as to the causes of attacks on the farming and rural community. This process has already begun with detailed questionnaires and analysis being conducted in relation to incidents of attacks on farming and rural communities. Reports on the results of these investigations will be produced on a quarterly basis - the first within three months of the Summit by the Selected Committee on Attacks on Farms and Smallholdings. The cause for attacks on farms and smallholdings should be more scientifically researched by inter alia academic institutions.
9. We recognize that to ensure long term safety in rural and farming communities as sustained focus is required. It is critical that a comprehensive policy framework be developed in order to ensure this. We therefore commit ourselves as roleplayers both in and outside of Government to collaborate with the Department of Safety and Security in the development of a long-term policy framework for Rural Safety and Security. This framework will include inter alia the determining of overall capacity and resource needs, as well as the roles and responsibilities of a range of Government departments and other roleplayers in ensuring safer rural communities.
10. The spiritual leaders of the nation need to unite in humility and prayer to revive the moral values and standards which will again condemn lawlessness of all kinds, create social pressure against criminality and reward decency.