Our condolences to the Terreblanche family

The SACP has received with regret and shock the news of the murder of the leader of the AWB, Eugene Terreblanche. For years he has been a controversial figure and outspoken against the transformation project and national reconciliation. To this end the SACP had fundamental differences with his views.

Be that as it may, no matter what differences we may have with individuals and their political beliefs, murder has no space in our society and is not a solution to any of our problems. We therefore strongly condemn this act of murder.

We call on government to act swiftly on the alleged perpetrators, and broaden these actions to combat both the killing of farm owners and farm workers. We cannot afford anymore to send a message that any of the farm killings is tolerable.

The SACP also firmly supports the call for calm by the President. The SACP also calls for restraint and that no-one must try and exploit this unfortunate criminal incident for political reasons and grandstanding.

In line with our elections manifesto, crime must be fought with all our energies including rooting out the socio-economic conditions that give rise to crime.

If the allegation that Terreblanche's murder arose out of a wage dispute is true, it calls upon all of us, especially government, to strengthen the effective regulation and the labour inspectorate on farms. Over a period of time the SACP has strongly campaigned for the building of the capacity of our Department of Labour to inspect and enforce legislation aimed at protecting the vulnerable. This ought to be attended to urgently given continuing reports of abuse of especially the most vulnerable workers, farm-workers and domestic workers.

The SACP calls for a speedy solution to the challenges facing our broader land and agrarian reform, including the convening of the long overdue summit of farm-workers and farm-dwellers.

The SACP express its deepest condolences to the Terreblanche family and friends.

Statement issued by the SACP, April 5 2010

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