SACP Marches Against Racism in Mpumalanga

Friday, 27 May 2005

The South African Communist Party (SACP) is to lead a march of farm workers to protest against violence, racism and crime perpetuated by a white farmer in Schoenheid farm, Amersfoort, Mpumalanga Province.

The farmer a Mr. Reinhardt Arnoldi has over a period of time harassed and intimidated farm workers in and around the area. In taking forward its Land and Agrarian reform campaign the SACP will ensure that ordinary workers and the poor are protected and subjected to continuously harassment and intimidation by racist farmers.

Farm dwellers have testified in a meeting with the SACP that their stock is being taken away and their property destroyed, we certainly can't accept that attitude.

The march follows a number of attempts by our Provincial leadership to intervene on behalf of farm dwellers and workers to no avail given the recalcitrant attitudes of the farmer concerned. This march is to empower the framing community to stand up against abuse and racism and to call on the law to prevail and protect the vulnerable farm workers.

This march is also to protest against the transingent white agricultural capitalist class who are reluctant to transform and empower communities, which have made the wealth they own and maintained their opulent lifestyles, whilst condemned into perpetual poverty and degrading living conditions. The marches will also demand the return of their stock and claim against the destroyed property.

We call on the agricultural organisations to isolate and distance themselves from racism and specifically against this farmer who is terrorising farm workers. We also call on our government to intervene in this issue in a manner that those who commit such acts of violence and intimidation are held responsible for their actions.

We cannot fold our arms when our people's property and stock are being destroyed only in the name of trying to stop transformation.

The march will take place as follows: Date: Sunday, 29 May 2005 Time: 09h00 Meeting Venue: Kalkoenkrans School (Scheepers' farm)

Destination: Schoenheid Farm, Amersfoort, Between Ermelo and Volkrust

The march will as well move to present memorandums to the Provincial department of Land and Agriculture and proceed to the department of safety and security in the Province.

Contact:

Juda Tsotetsi

Provincial Secretary

South African Communist Party (SACP) Mpumalanga

Tel: 013 656 2045

Cell: 082 064 1156

Email: mpumalanga@sacp.org.za

Or

Kaizer Mohau

Media Liaison Officer

South African Communist Party (SACP)

Tel: 011 339 3621/2

Fax: 011 339 4244/6880

Cell: 073 571 7528

Email: Kaizer@sacp.org.za

Website: www.sacp.org.za