The irony rights group said they have requested a meeting with Cele to discuss farm murders and illegal land occupation. This follows numerous remarks from political circles since the beginning of the year over the expropriation of land without compensation.
The request comes at a time when The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) claimed there was a deliberate counter movement forming in the country against parliament’s resolution to amend the constitution so as to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation.
EFF leader Julius Malema said at a media briefing the movement brings together “right-wing formations like Freedom Front Plus, AfriForum, and liberal, market-friendly formations like the DA and Cope… We are also aware that there are European members of parliament who are trying to mobilise Europe into an imperialist neocolonial programme of undermining the sovereignty and democratic rights of South Africans”.
AfriForum Head of Community Safety Ian Cameron says political remarks that increasingly portray legal land owners as the enemy or even land thieves create a climate for an “increase in farm attacks. In January 2018 there have already been double the amount of farm attacks than in January 2017”.
According to Cameron there are already incidents where land is illegally occupied due to political remarks – remarks such as that of Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s acceptance and approval of the policy to expropriate land without compensation.
“Irresponsible political remarks increase the level of uncertainty and cause further feelings of threat for legal land owners. We want to meet with Cele to talk about what the police will do to maintain law and order in communities where property right is increasingly coming under pressure,” says Cameron.
Cameron is of the opinion that a discussion with Cele is critical to accomplish cooperation between the police and citizenry, as well as to get a peaceful solution in the search for law and order – especially in rural areas. He emphasises that people must become involved with community safety structures to thusly mobilise against illegal land grabs.
