The police take an impartial approach to farm safety and will not be affected by politicians’ attempts to polarise the issue, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Monday.
Mthethwa was speaking after “fruitful” talks with newly appointed Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) leader Steyn van Ronge in Pretoria.
The AWB had asked for the meeting to voice its concern about farm murders and to find out how the government planned to deal with the matter.
Former AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche was murdered at his farm outside Ventersdorp over the Easter weekend.
During Monday’s meeting, Van Ronge accused the media of “character assassination”, and said this was unfair because Terre’Blanche was not there to defend himself. He also accused politicians of making “defamatory” statements about Terre’Blanche.
“We need to respect each other from racial lines and belief ideology, and songs that fuel racial violence cannot be tolerated,” said Van Ronge. “We should all act within the confines of the law and ensure we promote peace and harmony because South Africa belongs to all of us.”
Infuriated
Terre’Blanche’s supporters have been infuriated at reports that a used condom was allegedly found at the murder scene, and that one of his alleged killers claimed to have been sodomised by him.
Police have denied the claims, but have confirmed that semen was found on Terre’Blanche’s body. The crime was reportedly committed over a wage dispute.
Mthethwa, who refused to comment on recent developments in the Terre’Blanche case, advised the AWB to speak to the South African National Editors’ Forum about the media reports.
He assured the AWB that rural safety was one of the government’s top priorities, and indicated that there needed to be more meetings with the AWB.
“We cannot understand each other’s issues from a distance. The meeting is a sign of mutual recognition, irrespective of each other’s school of thought or ideology,” he said.
The bottom line was that “sanity must prevail”, he said.
Awareness of farm killings
AgriSA and the police would embark on a roadshow in the rural community in May to create awareness of farm killings, as well as to put in place effective measures to prevent them.
“We need to ensure production at farms continues unhindered. We cannot allow crime to be a deterrent,” said Mthethwa.
Van Ronge said the AWB would promote mutual cooperation and respect with the ministry by getting involved in crime-fighting initiatives on farms and in urban areas.
He said in his capacity as leader of the AWB he did not wish to leave the country but wanted to remain and make his valuable contribution in harmonising racial relations.
Soon after Terre’Blanche’s murder, AWB members threatened to avenge his death, but then the organisation retracted the statements, saying emotions were high at the time. — Sapa