South Africa needs you, ANC president tells farmers’ conference

The doors of the African National Congress were open to SA farmers, party president Jacob Zuma said yesterday.

"We should not be afraid to raise any matter," he told grain farmers at the annual Grain SA conference in Bothaville in the Free State.

"No matter what kind of problem you have. I would like that relationship really to be strengthened."

Zuma said if there was no interaction between parties, matters could lead to tension that could "sit for a long time" and not be resolved.

The ANC president told farmers that the most important message he had for them was that "South Africa needs you" – which was greeted with applause.

Zuma said the governing party was "mindful" of the fact that many farms and rural areas had to endure violent crime.

"We must emphatically say that we should not tolerate criminal activity of any sort – the attacks on farmers, farm workers, labour tenants, or any citizens living in rural areas."

Zuma said the ANC was also concerned that there were still people in rural areas who remained vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

"We must equally emphasise that we would not tolerate the abuse of farm workers and farm dwellers," he said, adding that farming communities should eradicate such abuse where it was found.

Zuma said the ANC gave particular attention to agriculture because the sector was critical for the economic development of rural areas and the country as a whole.

Agriculture in South Africa was not just about food security for the poor.