The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has learnt with shock and outrage of the mindless killing of four members of the farming community in the Western Cape this past weekend. She is sending her most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.
On Friday evening the late farmer and former African National Congress (ANC) Councillor in the Witzenburg Municipality, Pieter "PM" Cillie, was killed on his farm, Loraine, near Ceres in the Western Cape.
On Saturday three farm workers of the Nooitgedacht farm were also killed near Beaufort West in the Karoo. They were the 85 year old Helena Nuwegeld who was known for her amazing singing prowess and played in one of Dawid Kramer's productions. The other two farm workers were Hendrik September, 64 and Mannetjie John, 38.
The Minister reiterated that such senseless killings are totally unacceptable, and "out of touch with a democratic state that seeks to protect and provide safe rural spaces because the rural people are among the most vulnerable to the crime." She said, "we call on the police to thoroughly investigate these atrocities and to spare no effort in putting the perpetrators behind bars sooner rather than later."
She also added that the government will "show our people, especially rural residents that we are serious in dealing with violent crime. Working together with communities we will be able to do more to make the South African hinterland safe and prosperous for all our people, especially children and the elderly."
The communities are urged to work together with the police to realise this goal so that criminals find that there are no safe spaces in our communities. The Minister said that when someone takes the lives of others in such deliberate and cold-blooded fashion, we must take away their freedom to live outside prison walls. She concluded that her "heart really goes out to those who have laughed and enjoyed their loved ones last week and now will never see them again. It is in the best interest of our country, and a small consolation to the bereaved, that justice is seen to be done to these cowardly killers."
For further information contact:
Steve Galane
Acting Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 083 635 7346
Tel: 012 319 7312
E-mail: DAIS@daff.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
7 December 2009
