South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has dismissed allegations by Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, that the white minority in South Africa is in any danger.
Dutton earlier said his department was considering fast-tracking visas for white South Africans farmers, following reports of violent attacks on people living and working on farms in South Africa, as well as the recent motion passed in the South African Parliament that paved the way for land expropriation without compensation.
“If you look at the footage, read the stories and hear the accounts, it’s horrific circumstances they face,” he told News Corp Australia.
READ Land expropriation process gets go ahead
Dutton was also quoted as saying that these farmers “deserve special attention” from a “civilised” country such as Australia.
Dirco slammed Dutton’s comments, saying white farmers were not at risk.
“There is no reason for any government anywhere in the world to suspect that any South Africans are in danger from their own democratically elected government,” spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said.
He added that the land issue was currently before Parliament and stressed that President Cyril Ramaphosa and the members of his cabinet would ensure that the process of land redistribution would be orderly, take place according to South African laws, and would take the social and economic impact of such a move into consideration.
The department also called on all organisations in the country to refrain from stoking panic on land reform.
“The South African government has been very clear and transparent about the land reform process,” Mabaya said.
According to Omri van Zyl, executive director of Agri SA, South African farmers must be more appreciated.
“Our farmers have sought-after skills that are internationally recognised. It is therefore important that we create a safe environment [in which] they can do their important work of producing enough food from which all South Africans will benefit.”
He also emphasised that it was important to realise that these statements were only Dutton’s opinion and that nothing had yet been verified.
