Free State Agriculture (FSA) is calling for immediate action from the MECs for community safety, roads and transport, and agriculture following a recent visit to high-crime hotspots along the Lesotho border.
The visit, which took place from Tuesday, 10 to Thursday, 12 September, covered towns including Zastron, Vanstadensrus, Wepener, Hobhouse, Ladybrand, Clocolan, Ficksburg, Clarens, Fouriesburg, and areas in QwaQwa.
During the visit, FSA highlighted the severe challenges faced by farming communities in these border areas.
Dr Jane Buys, a security risk analyst with FSA, accompanied the MECs and confirmed that information sessions were held with affected farming communities. These sessions detailed the severe issues caused by cross-border crime, which include livestock and grazing theft, arson, and the theft of tractors, implements, and salt leaks.
Additionally, local farmers are facing theft of farm products, tractors, and copper cables, while irrigation systems and feed troughs are being damaged. The illegal movement of Basotho people across the border has further exacerbated the high crime rates in the region.
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Danger to animal health
Biosecurity concerns and the transmission of animal diseases due to inadequate fencing and quarantine facilities were also discussed.
The leasing of land and grazing to Basotho farmers, as well as the significant number of Basotho individuals residing illegally in the country, were identified as urgent issues by the farming communities.
Buys also emphasised that poor cell phone reception is a major problem for farmers in these border areas.
“All these challenges will be detailed in a report, which will include short- and medium-term action plans for effective intervention by national departments at the provincial level,” concluded Buys.
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