Speech by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus MP, in the Appropriation Debate: Rural Development and Land Reform, Parliament, June 7 2011
Chairperson,
Rural Development and Land Reform is an important appropriation debate and important things were said here today. The agricultural leaders who are attending proceedings here today, the farmers and landowners out there should take note of what was said in this debate today.
The Democratic Alliance's (DA) speaker, Ms. Mazibuko acknowledged and said that the DA has the same objectives with regard to land reform as that of the ANC. There is therefore no difference between the DA and the ANC when it comes to land reform. The Freedom Front Plus differs however drastically with the ANC and now also from the DA when it comes to land reform.
The Deputy Minister complains about the DA but it is like the cat family who mate and fight with each other simultaneously. The Deputy Minister criticises the FF Plus and says that we are the first party to complain about land reform. He is right but I wish to state it clearly that we will continue with our complaints.
The Deputy Minister charges farmers and talks about how they abuse their workers and even kill them. I challenge the Deputy Minister to provide the statistics on this. How many farm workers have been killed by farmers? I will however be giving you the statistics about farm murders in South Africa.