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Free State Agriculture (FSA) and the Transvaal Agricultural Union SA (TAU SA) identified a need to communicate cooperation with all role-players regarding safety in terms of organized, standardized and accredited training within the Rural Safety Strategy (RSS) in farming communities in the Free State.
It realized in a positive engagement session with the TAU SA, FSA and Agri SA on 9 October 2020 at Kroonstad. A decision was taken on creating a joint working procedure by role-players to establish a Rural Safety Command Centre for the Free State where all role-players should enjoy equal representation. This include the SAPS, TAU SA, FSA and other organizations that has an interest to promote safety in farming communities. The Command Centre should serve as a provincial umbrella to integrate, centralized and effectively address training needs, crime incidents, problems, challenges and shortcomings wrt service delivery within the Criminal Justice System in rural areas. The Command Centre shall provide feedback to the Provincial Priority Committee on Rural Safety.
Bertus van der Westhuizen, chairperson of TAU SA Free State is really excited and positive on the establishment of such a Command Centre where all role-players could partake in. Jakkals le Roux, chairperson of FSA’s Rural Safety committee, who has been involved with rural safety for the past 12 years, regard this Command Centre as a milestone that was reached to integrate all role players to ensure bigger and better safety in rural areas/farming communities.
Tommie Esterhuyse, chairperson of Agri SA’s Rural Safety committee welcomes the establishment of an emergency Command Centre after positive engagement with the National Police commissioner on 5 October 2020. The involvement of communities and intelligence services is necessary for a proactive approach.
Through the Command Centre the role, involvement and empowerment of especially the young farmers will be extended within the revised Rural Safety Strategy, according to Marthin de Kock, vice-chairperson of FSA’s Rural Safety committee.
Follow up engagement will be arranged in due course with invitations to the necessary role players.