ALLOWING the killing of farmers to continue unabated would amount to sabotage, Safety and Security Steve Tshwete said on Thursday. ”Farmers are the lifeline of this country,” he told reporters at Midrand after a three-day conference on rural safety. ”Farmers are not just feeding the nation but are also earning us huge forex reserves.” The rate at which they were being killed was ”quite alarming”, the minister said. Tshwete said he would fully support a suggestion that rural police be set up to improve security on farms. Such police would be appointed by local authorities and operate along the same lines as municipal police. Tshwete also called for the powers of traditional leaders to be consolidated in order to restore discipline in rural communities. In the past, traditional leaders often heard criminal and civil cases and were now clamouring those powers to be returned to them. It would be in everyone’s interest to grant their request, Tshwete said, adding: ”Today’s youngsters have no respect for anything.” – Sapa