SACP+statement+on+the+assault+of+a+farmworker



=**SACP STATEMENT ON THE ASSAULT OF A FARMWORKER**=

The South African Communist Party (SACP) joins COSATU in condemning the continuous racist barbarity unleashed on farm workers by sections of white farmers in our country. The assault on Petrus Seoka by a white farmer in Ventersdorp, North-West must be strongly condemned and we call upon authorities to take urgent action in this regard.

The SACP views these acts of brutalities in a very serious light. The SACP has consistently raised these issues over the years, especially during the launch of our Red October Campaign on Land and Agrarian transformation, as well as at the Land Summit last year.

We are also deeply worried about the fact that the police in the area have not taken any action, despite the fact that a charge of assault has reportedly been laid with them. We call upon the North-West police to act on this as a matter of urgency. We are also concerned about a pattern in many of our rural areas where some of the institutions of justice seem to turn a blind eye to such racist actions by white farmers.

We also call upon the agricultural unions representing these farmers to stand up and be counted by strongly condemning such actions and assist the police in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book. We have consistently raised our outrage at the fact that both Agri-SA and the ‘Transvaal’ Agricultural Union tend to be silent on the violence unleashed by white farmers on black workers, whilst being vociferous on attacks against white farmers. All forms of violence, irrespective of the perpetrator must be equally condemned and acted upon by authorities.

In the coming weeks and days the SACP will utilize its structures from the province, districts and branches to mobilise communities in and around the Ventersdorp district to ensure that we expose and bring to an end this racist barbarism.

We call upon all South Africans to condemn these acts of violence against ordinary workers and root out racism in our society. Our country cannot allow racism to undermine the gains we have made as a nation.

Issued by: SACP

Kaizer Mohau, Media Liaison Officer, South African Communist Party (SACP) Tel: 011 339 3621/2 Fax: 011 339 4244/6880 Fax 2 Email: 086 613 5646 Mobile: 076 573 7764 Email: kaizer@sacp.org.za Web portal: www.sacp.org.za**
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