It is disheartening that there are still certain groups that do not realise the importance and value of farmers in South Africa.
TLU SA emphasised the critical role farmers play by highlighting the following:
Rural communities are dependent upon successful farmers in the district for their survival.
Rural towns depend on the purchasing power that farmers and their employees spend in those towns.
Agriculture provides much-needed jobs to roughly one million people in the country (depending upon seasonal requirements).
The production of sufficient food remains one of the most important stabilising factors in the country.
“The relationship between farmers and their employees is outstanding; indeed a beacon of hope in a generally turbulent South African labour environment, says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, president of TLU SA. “Some of our members’ employees have been working on the same farm for more than three generations. This is an indication of a positive work environment.”
"Politicians who want to create uncertainty around agriculture with their distorted agendas, constantly attempting to create the impression that farmworkers are abused and treated like slaves, in fact only reveal their total lack of knowledge and understanding about work relationships on farms."
These reckless statements threaten food security. Only once the food is no longer readily available will people finally value farmers and the stable agricultural environment they create and maintain. Without farmers and their workers, there will be no food and therefore no future in the country.
"We would also like to express our gratitude to all South Africans who have recently opened their hearts to our farmers who have been affected by devastating fires," says Mr Geldenhuys.
"Several role players went the extra mile to alleviate the crisis. It made a huge difference."
MEDIAVERKLARING: TLU SA beklemtoon landbou se onmisbare rol in land
Dit is betreurenswaardig dat daar steeds sommige groepe is wat nie die waarde van landbouers in Suid-Afrika besef nie.
TLU SA wil graag die rol van landbouers deur die volgende punte beklemtoon:
Landelike gemeenskappe is afhanklik van suksesvolle kommersiële boere in die omgewing vir hulle voortbestaan.
Plattelandse dorpe is afhanklik van die koopkrag wat landbouers en werknemers in dorpe spandeer.
Landbou verskaf – afhangende die seisoenale behoefte – werk aan ongeveer een miljoen mense in die land.
Voldoende voedsel is een van die belangrikste stabiliserende faktore in die land.
“Die verhouding tussen boere en hulle werknemers is uitstekend en beslis een van die beter werksverhoudinge in enige ekonomiese sektor,” sê mnr. Henry Geldenhuys, die president van TLU SA. “Van ons lede het werkers wat al vir meer as drie geslagte lank op dieselfde plaas werk. Dit dui op ‘n baie positiewe werksomgewing.
“Politici wat met hul eie verwronge agendas onsekerheid rondom landbou wil skep en voortdurend die indruk probeer skep dat plaaswerkers soos slawe behandel en misbruik word, openbaar daardeur hul totale gebrek aan kennis oor wat die werklikheid op plase is.”
Hierdie tipe uitsprake bedreig voedselsekerheid. Dit is eers wanneer voedsel nie meer beskikbaar is nie, dat hierdie mense die waarde van landbouers en ‘n stabiele landbou-omgewing sal besef. Sonder boere en hulle werkers is daar geen kos en dus geen toekoms in die land nie.
“Ons wil verder ons dank uitspreek teenoor die Suid-Afrikaners wat die afgelope tyd hulle harte vir ons boere wat deur vernietigende brande geraak is, oopgemaak het,” sê mnr. Geldenhuys. “Verskeie rolspelers het uit hulle pad gegaan om op hulle eie manier ‘n bydrae te maak om die nood te verlig. Dit het ‘n baie groot verskil gemaak.”
