Farm attacks are continuing this New Year, amid very real fears that the military is being deployed on properties across the country in an effort to complete Robert Mugabe’s so called land ‘reform’ programme.

This weekend, a militia led onslaught on commercial farms in Rusape saw a local farming family come under siege, with two people being assaulted by a mob of land invaders. Rudolf du Toit and his South African wife were both physically attacked on Sunday after almost two days of threats and intimidation by a mob on their farm in Rusape. The couple are now recovering from their ordeal and are still on their land after the intervention of South African Ambassador Mlungisi Makalima. Makalima apparently managed to stabilise the situation after pleas from Mrs du Toit for his assistance.

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A South African court has ordered the government to protect the land rights of its citizens in Zimbabwe, as well as to respect the rulings of the human rights court of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The decision in the High Court in Pretoria comes after an urgent application was filed on behalf of South African farmers, whose right to their government’s protection had been excluded in a proposed bilateral investment protection agreement (BIPPA) between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The agreement, which is still to be made public, was set to only offer protection to South African investors in all areas, from the date of signing. Controversially, the South African Trade and Industry Minister admitted that the agreement would not include a ‘retrospective’ clause on land, therefore excluding protection on all South African owned land expropriated by the Zimbabwe government during the so-called land ‘reform’ programme.

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One of the less-popular towns of Nigeria, Shonga, is gradually fast becoming a food hub in both Nigeria and Africa, thanks to white Zimbabwean farmers expelled by Robert Mugabe in early 2000.

During the heightened land ownership and race row in Zimbabwe that had since crippled the southern African country’s economy, the government of Kwara State in Nigeria banked on the opportunity to lure the displaced farmers to Shonga in what is now deemed a ‘success’ by observers.

“We arrived to virgin bush. We were basically just given GPS points, told to mark them out, clear the bush and find water, build the house, build the sheds, and import cattle. It was right from the grassroots and it was fun. We all lived in tents for a while,” said Irvin Reid, one of the Zimbabwean farmers.

Less than five years, the lands are now cultivable and both locals and farmers are now reaping the fruits of their labour.

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Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has urged farmers to expose those that are not complying with the law. The minister was addressing farmers on Thursday at a Northern Cape grape farm, during a two-day inspection of the province’s farms for acceptable working conditions of vulnerable workers. His visit was part of the department’s ongoing workplace inspections checking on adherence of labour laws.

He commended the “growing trend of exemplary employers” who did not do just enough to comply with labour legislation but went the extra mile to ensure the welfare of their employees and their families. Minister Mdladlana was particularly impressed by the conditions under which the 200 Southern Farms employees and their families work. The table grape exporting farm, situated on the banks of Orange River bordering Namibia, about 200 kilometres from Upington, is one of few farming industries where employees are treated with utmost care.

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