DA calls for urgent recovery plan for all farmers affected by KZN unrest

19 July 2021

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) calls on provincial Agriculture and Rural Development MEC, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, to urgently table a plan on how her Department will assist farmers – both commercial and communal – to rebuild and restore food production.

The appeal comes after extensive damage to the province during last week’s violence and destruction, which has also hit rural areas hard.

The DA calls on the MEC to show true leadership and to work towards bringing about productivity within the agricultural sector.

With many farms burned, livestock stolen, and agricultural business that provide supplies to farmers looted or destroyed, it will be very difficult for our farmers to return to full production.

Some farmers are also currently unable to sell produce due to limited transport capability and assistance needs to be provided to them in order to get food supplies to our towns and cities, where it is so urgently needed.

Agriculture remains the lifeblood of our province. With food security now an even bigger concern, the MEC and her Department have a responsibility to ensure that this vital sector is protected and to assist in restoring some kind of normality.

This also needs to be done in a fair and equal manner, so that all farmers in the province who suffered losses are assisted.

The DA extends its support to farmers and farmworkers affected by the unrest. The sector is already under pressure due to the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak in the province. It is therefore critical that the provincial government prioritise a farming recovery programme, for both commercial and communal farmers.

The people of KZN have an opportunity to rebuild and to bring communities together, showing those who tried to divide us this week that we remain a strong united province.

Issued by Martin Meyer, DA KZN Spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, 19 July 2021