Department of Agriculture still donating to violent protesters in Western Cape

The Department of Agriculture is defending its decision to donate more than R4 million to the so-called "Black Association of the Agricultural Sector (BAWSI)" which was instrumental in the violent farm protests in 2012 in the Western Cape causing damage worth millions.

This came to light after a protracted court battle in which AfriForum forced the Department to provide reasons for its decision to support the group financially. 

In its written response to AfriForum, the Department says that BAWSI was prioritized for funding mainly because of a report on alleged human rights violations in the Western Cape, released by the Human Rights Watch in August 2011. 

The report created a huge furore at the time because of the way it had stereotyped farmers in the Western Cape.  In its reasons, the Department says that BAWSI was supposed to support the Department in issues raised in the report, and to solve problems pertaining to living conditions of farm workers in the Western Cape.

The letter from the Department acknowledges that the decision was further supported by an observation in Parliament that the Department had not taken action in 2009/2010 or 2010/2011 in terms of its decision at a summit to change the circumstances of so-called vulnerable workers.

According to the Department all channels were followed to authorize the payment and the payment was compliant with the Financial Management Act (No 1 of 1999). 

Willie Spies, Legal Advisor for AfriForum, said the Western Cape farm action and the role of government in that action, serve as examples of the destabilising role played by government itself in the South African economy. 

It is clear that government has adopted a radical approach, i.e. funding racist and violent fringe organisations who do not contribute to employment, economic growth or progress in order to cover up its own inability to provide these crucial elements to the country.

"We will study these reasons, which were provided to us more than a year after the request has been submitted, and decide whether there are any grounds in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act to have the decision revised considering the obvious irrationality thereof. 

"Unfortunately the clock cannot be turned back and the results of the decision cannot be undone, but at least legal action will prevent similar decisions from being made by government and other sectors of the economy," Spies said.

Statement issued by Willie Spies, AfriForum Legal Representative, June 23 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter