Die regering is weereens besig om landbou te faal deur die Vrystaatse en Noord-Kaapse brande – waar weiding, diere en opstalle vernietig is – nie tot ‘n ramp te verklaar nie.
Die parlement se Portefeuljekomitee vir Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling het reeds gister ‘n versoek gerig aan minister Thoko Didiza om die gebiede in die Vrystaat en Noord-Kaap wat deur brande verwoes is, tot rampgebiede te verklaar. Die VF+ het ‘n soortgelyke versoek gerig.
“Wanneer die regering landbouers nodig het, soos gedurende Covid-19, is ons net die beste, maar wanneer ons die regering se hulp nodig het, is daar doodse stilte,” sê mnr. Bertus van der Westhuizen, die voorsitter van TLU SA in die Vrystaat. “Landbou is reeds gewoond hieraan en daarom is dit geen verrassing dat boere en ondersteuners van regoor die land self inspring om die boere in die Vrystaat en Noord-Kaap by te staan nie.”
TLU SA het reeds begin om die bydraes en fondse wat instroom na die boere in nood te kanaliseer.
Boere het laat weet dat die volgende nou benodig word:
Breëspektrum-antibiotika en ander veemedisyne;
Energielekke soos melassemeel en/of lekblokke;
Gras, oesreste, mielies en enige ruvoer.
Enige weiding wat uitgespaar is en afgestaan kan word;
Pale, draad en omheiningsmateriaal om beskadigde infrastruktuur te probeer herstel;
Plastiekpyp vir watervoorsiening;
Brandstof en vervoer vir skenkings; en
Fondse om die bostaande te voorsien.
Enige finansiële bydraes kan direk in TLU SA se Traumafonds-rekening betaal word.
“Ons sal voortgaan om boere, of hulle lede is of nie, te ondersteun wanneer hulle dit nodig het,” sê mnr. Van der Westhuizen. “Ons belangrikste taak is om te verseker dat boere veilig en volhoubaar op hulle grond bly om in die landbouvraag van die land te voorsien. Dit sal ons doen.”
Volg hierdie skakel vir meer inligting oor die hulp-veldtog:
Government is once again failing agriculture by not declaring the Free State/Northern Cape fires – where grazing, animals and homes were destroyed already – as disaster areas.
The parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development yesterday called on minister Thoko Didiza to declare the districts affected by fires in the Free State and Northern Cape to disaster areas. The VF+ has made a similar request.
“When the government needs farmers, like during Covid-19 scare, we are simply the best, but when we need government’s help, there is only silence,” says Mr Bertus van der Westhuizen, the chairman of TLU SA in the Free State. “Farmers are used to this, and that’s why we weren’t surprised when farmers and supporters from across the country jumped in to support the farmers in these areas.”
TLU SA is already allocating contributions and funds streaming in to support the farmers in need.
Farmers need the following:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics and other veterinary medicine;
Energy licks like molasses meal and/or lick blocks;
Hay, crop stover, maize and any roughage;
Any grazing that might be available;
Poles, wire and fencing material to repair damaged infrastructure;
Plastic pipe for water reticulation;
Fuel and transport for donations; and
Funds to supply the above.
Any financial contributions can be paid into TLU SA’s Trauma Fund account.
“We will continue to support farmers, members or not, when they need it,” says Mr Van der Westhuizen. “Our most important task is to ensure farmers stay on their land safely and sustainably to produce for the agricultural needs of the country. We are committed to this.”
Follow the link for more information about the support campaign:
