Source: TLU SA media release, 9 June 2020, photo credit: The Hop Shop at Castle Farm/Twitter
After public pressure facilitated by TLU SA, the Farm Watch can now operate legally again.
TLU SA in April urged the Minister of Police, Mr Bheki Cele and President Cyril Ramaphosa to activate the local Farm Watches. South Africans could support the action by signing a petition.
Patrolling by the crucially necessary watches were prohibited since the inception of the lockdown in March. Since then there had been a marked and concerning increase in the theft of agricultural products and livestock.
“We want to thank the public for realising the importance of our Farm Watches and supporting the petition,” says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, the deputy president of TLU SA, as well as chairman of the Safety Committee. “We received more than 10 000 petitions and sent it to the minister and president. We are pleased to see the pressure we applied through the appeal, bore the desired fruit. But, it would have been ideal if the Farm Watch never had to cease their activities.
“The Farm Watch delivers a crucially essential service to protect our rural areas. The Farm Watch successfully works with the police and helps to lighten their load.”
TLU SA calls on all patrollers and structures within the Farm Watch to continue with caution and responsibility.
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) coordinates industry interventions and collaboratively manages risks in the value chain to enable the sustainability and profitability of pork producers in South Africa.
