Ngwako Modjadji
A committee appointed by Minister of Safety and Security Steve Tshwete to investigate farm attacks on farmers has been accused of being one-sided because it was not listening to farm workers’ concerns.
The investigation was launched in April after farmers forwarded a complaint to Tshwete on farm attacks.
The commission is to probe claims that the attacks on farms are politically motivated, are carried out by land-hungry people and examine the likely causes behind the attacks.
The committee consists of seven members who were appointed by Tshwete.
Eugene Roelofse, a former ombudsman at the South African Council of Churches, went to make representations to the commission last week on the ill-treatment of farm workers. He was not allowed an opportunity to speak.
He said the fact that the exploitation of farm workers by farmers did not form part of the commission of inquiry was “astonishing”.
“I do not for a moment think that Tshwete would deliberately have appointed people who had already nailed their colours to the mast and can hardly be considered as impartial. This harm must be undone,” Roelofse said.
He said the committee undermines the principle of audi alterem partem let the other side be heard.
Roelofse accused the committee of siding with “right-wing elements” that held rallies to protest against violent criminal acts on farms only when “boeremense” were the victims.
He said despite informing the minister of safety and security about the abuse of farm workers, nothing has been done to change the situation.
A representative for the committee, Jabu Dlamini, said its mandate was to investigate farm attacks not the exploitation of farm workers. An interim report by the commission, released in July, recommended that the South African Police Service carry out special operations in priority areas to advise farmers on improving security.
“It is a cause of concern that in many cases assailants have been able to execute farm attacks because the security on the farms has been inadequate or, in some cases, non-existent,” the interim report read.
The committee’s final report is expected at the end of the year.