Home » ACDP Leader Calls on Rampahosa to Apologise to Farmers for ‘No Killings’ Statement

ACDP Leader Calls on Rampahosa to Apologise to Farmers for ‘No Killings’ Statement

The leader of the ACDP (African Christian Democratic Party), Kenneth Meshoe, has called on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to apologise to the SA farming community for his “no killings” statement made during an interview with Bloomberg whilst attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week. Rev Meshoe called Ramaphosa’s statement “a national […]

By SAPeople
30-09-18 11:53
in News

The leader of the ACDP (African Christian Democratic Party), Kenneth Meshoe, has called on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to apologise to the SA farming community for his “no killings” statement made during an interview with Bloomberg whilst attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week. Rev Meshoe called Ramaphosa’s statement “a national disgrace”.

Ramaphosa made the claim during the interview, in response to US President Donald Trump’s controversial tweet in August regarding farm killings in South Africa. (Watch below.)

After watching a Fox News segment (‘South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers’), Trump had tweeted: “I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. ”

Ramaphosa said this week: “There are no killings of farmers… or white farmers in South Africa. There’s no land grab in South Africa. We are involved in a process of discussing land reform…”

Meshoe said the ACDP is “deeply disappointed” and that Ramaphosa’s statement “shows a lack of sympathy for the families of murdered farmers and farm workers”. He said:

President Cyril Ramaphosa has disappointed most of us who trusted him by denying that land grabs are taking place in SA, and denying that farmers are being killed. How can we trust a man who blatantly lies to the international community under our watch? This is a national disgrace. We call on him to apologise to the farming community.

Citing the latest crime statistics, released by the South African Police Service (SAPS), Meshoe pointed out that of the 19,016 murders recorded between April 2016 and March 2017 “significantly, they also show 62 farm murders during this period – with 52 of those murdered being the owners or occupiers of farms. This refutes President Ramaphosa’s statement.”

Meshoe said:

In addition to the murders, many farmers and their families have been brutally assaulted, and even tortured. The post-traumatic damage caused to the families of murdered farmers and farm workers, as well as those who survived brutal assaults is inestimable. AgriSA has also reported that farmers lost R7.7 billion in 2017 due to crime on farms. This is totally unacceptable.

The ACDP also called on Ramaphosa to ensure that Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, implements additional measures to ensure the safety and security of the farming communities.

“These communities are not only critical to ensure food security in the nation, but also contribute significantly to job creation and economic growth.”