Premier wants to talk about FS border

“Do your job or see you in court.” This written warning regarding safety and security on the Lesotho border was sent by Free Agriculture on 11 July this year to six ministers, the Free premier and three Free State MECs. “Until the voice of reason prevails, we will be at loggerheads,” said Free Agriculture’s president Louw Steytler at the union’s annual congress in Bloemfontein. He condemned the callous way in which government has dismissed safety – or rather the lack thereof – at the Lesotho border. B order farmers have signed a mandate which gives Free Agriculture permission to fight this battle on their behalf. Free State premier Beatrice Marshoff admitted that government needed to work harder on the safety of farmers. “Police, the government, farmers and people living in rural areas; everybody must work at this.” She concluded, “Louw, ons moet praat dat ons nie hof toe gaan nie.” [“Louw, we must talk so that we don’t go to court.”] – Susan Botes