Court papers filed on Free State border case

Free State Agriculture (Agri Free State) has handed an application against 14 respondents in the Bloemfontein High Court over the collapse of law and order on the Lesotho border. The documents will be served shortly on the president and a number of government departments.
 “We exhausted all possible avenues in our efforts to address the collapse of law and order on the province’s border with Lesotho and we’re left with no choice, but to take the matter to court,” said Agri Free State general manager Henk Vermeulen.
The respondents are the president of South Africa and the ministers of safety and security, defence, public works, home affairs, agriculture and land affairs, foreign affairs and finance.
Documents were also served on the Free State premier and the MECs for safety and security, agriculture and land affairs, and public works and transport. Papers were also served on the commissioner of police in the Free State and the national commissioner of police.
“We demand, among others things the upkeep of the border fence, the rehabilitation of the roads and ongoing policing and patrolling of the border,” said Agri Free State president Louw Steytler. “We’re prepared to take the matter to the Constitutional Court if need be.”
Vermeulen concluded, “The problem is no government departments are prepared to take responsibility for the border problem. Free State Agri is prepared to take this matter to the highest authority because we can’t allow our farmers to remain at the mercy of criminals.” – Annelie Coleman