PRETORIA - Farmers from across the country have marched to the Union Buildings, calling for urgent land reform and better safety in rural areas.
The Izwi Labantu Forum is leading the march, which has the backing of the SACP.
Bennie Van Zyl, from the Transvaal Agricultural Union, said farmers were unhappy because government had put them in a poverty trap.
“We need title deeds and training. We asked already in 1995 for title deeds for new entry farmer in a proposal we made to government.
"They put it aside and said they will do it their way. But I think we should be angry at the right people not at each other. We cannot rewrite history,” Van Zyl said.
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Izwi Labantu Forum is calling for immediate and equitable access to land and production finance for black emerging farmers.
They also want effective interventions against farm murders, stock theft and rural criminality. They also want an end to systemic gatekeeping and double standards in government processes and engagements.
Van Zyl said he agreed with the demands.
“I support it in total. These are big issues. We must make sure that we apply the right principles to give people the opportunity to become successful farmers. We need a new policy approach from government regarding all these issues.”
He said agriculture in South Africa was under a lot of pressure, especially with the foot and mouth disease.
"Without food, nothing will work."