Tuesday, June 24, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
21 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Food For Mzansi
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
Food For Mzansi
No Result
View All Result
in News

Meyer: ‘If you attack agriculture, you attack the economy’

Lucinda Dordleyby Lucinda Dordley
17th June 2021
Western Cape agriculture minister Dr Ivan Meyer visited Raymond and Betty O’Grady following a vicious farm attack the two suffered in August 2020. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Western Cape agriculture minister Dr Ivan Meyer visited Raymond and Betty O’Grady following a vicious farm attack the two suffered in August 2020. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

Any criminal attack on agriculture is an attack on our economy, said Dr Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape agriculture minister, following his visit to an elderly couple who survived a violent attack last year.

Meyer paid a visit to Raymond and Betty O’Grady, the owners of Hillcrest Berry Orchards in Stellenbosch. The pair were attacked in the early hours of 21 August 2020.

“Attacks are very complicated,” remarked Raymond O’Grady during the minister’s visit. “The number of young people looking for work and living alone without family support is problematic. But, I am doing something that I believe can help, and that is why I started Hillcrest.”

Currently, the farm employs 130 people.

Join Food For Mzansi's WhatsApp channel for the latest updates!

JOIN NOW!
Raymond and Betty O'Grady own Hillcrest Berry Orchards, located on Helshoogte Pass in Stellenbosch. Photo: Supplied/Hillcrest Berry Orchards
Raymond and Betty O’Grady own Hillcrest Berry Orchards, located on Helshoogte Pass in Stellenbosch. Photo: Supplied/Hillcrest Berry Orchards

Struck by their resilience

“I was struck by the couple’s resilience and their deep sense of commitment and caring for their workers, the community of Stellenbosch and South Africa,” Meyer said.

The attack on the O’Grady farming couple was logged by the Western Cape agriculture department’s rural safety desk and rural safety monitoring dashboard, which was launched in August 2020.

“The rural safety desk and rural safety monitoring dashboard provides a platform to track and monitor all incidents of rural crime,” the minister explained.

“Information received about the safety of agri-workers and producers is captured on the dashboard. It triggers further actions, all aimed at ensuring a speedy investigation and judicial process.”

Justice prevailed

In the case of the Hillcrest farm attack, the department’s community development officer made contact with the Groot Drakenstein police station on the day of the attack.

“Available information was logged on the dashboard and regularly updated throughout the investigation and trial. By tracking the progress of the case, we were able to ensure that justice triumphed,” said Meyer.

According to O’Grady, the police and state prosecutor have been very helpful during and after the attack.

Meyer concluded, “Rural safety is about ensuring the dignity of our farmers, producer and agri-workers. Any criminal attack on agriculture is an attack on our economy. Therefore, I encourage agricultural stakeholders to log incidents at ruralsafety@elsenburg.com.“

ALSO READ: Farm attacks: A dangerous melting pot of violence and opportunity

Related Posts

Export opportunities shine bright for Mzansi farmers in 2024

Wesgro hails China’s zero-tariff trade boost for Africa

24th June 2025
Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

23rd June 2025
Tractor rollout powers up struggling KZN farmers

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

23rd June 2025

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

KZN MEC urges fast-tracking of key Ndwedwe projects

New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

Agribusiness confidence slips amid trade and disease worries

High trade tariffs loom if Agoa deal fails

Export opportunities shine bright for Mzansi farmers in 2024
News

Wesgro hails China’s zero-tariff trade boost for Africa

by Staff Reporter
24th June 2025

China is waiving tariffs for 53 African countries – and Wesgro is ready to act. CEO Wrenelle Stander says this...

Read moreDetails
Maditsi’s high school hustle becomes promising poultry venture

Maditsi’s high school hustle becomes promising poultry venture

23rd June 2025
Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

23rd June 2025
Tractor rollout powers up struggling KZN farmers

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

23rd June 2025
Rangelands under pressure: Saving SA’s grazing heartland

Rangelands under pressure: Saving SA’s grazing heartland

22nd June 2025

Farmers eye Starlink as a connectivity lifeline

Tractor rollout powers up struggling KZN farmers

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

Cash still rules farming, but smart financing drives growth

Maditsi’s high school hustle becomes promising poultry venture

Join Food For Mzansi's WhatsApp channel for the latest updates!

JOIN NOW!

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

How to compile a winning agribusiness plan

Mzansi on the menu: SA flavours shine at Africa Food Show

Closed doors: Young farmers still left out of agri power circles

Wesgro hails China’s zero-tariff trade boost for Africa

Maditsi’s high school hustle becomes promising poultry venture

Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

  • Awards & Global Impact
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

  • Awards & Global Impact
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought

Copyright © 2024 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.