Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana has denied intending to accuse farmers of treating their workers inhumanely, AgriSA said on Thursday.
”In a joint meeting with AgriSA, Nafusa [National African Farmers’ Union of South Africa] and TAU-SA [Transvaal Agricultural Union South Africa], she clearly stated that it was never her intention to accuse farmers of not treating workers properly,” said AgriSA president Lourie Bosman.
He said Xingwana had taken note of the unions’ concern after a meeting in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The meeting followed tension over remarks made late last year that farmers had committed crime as well as human rights abuses.
”Xingwana in fact stated her opinion that the majority of the agricultural sector adhere to good farming practices, but that there were still human rights abuses on farms.”
According to Bosman, the minister stated that it was her role to address issues in the agricultural sector.
During the meeting, AgriSA made a written presentation to the minister, in which proposals regarding the future were made.
”The minister reiterated the commitment to the sector plan and the memorandum of understanding signed by AgriSA and Nafusa … She also requested trust from all involved.”
The sector plan recognises that agriculture’s performance is affected by constrained global competitiveness and low profitability; skewed participation; low investor confidence in agriculture; inadequate, ineffective and inefficient support and delivery systems; and poor and unsustainable management of natural resources.
Xingwana could not be reached for comment. — Sapa