The realisation of safe and cohesive communities is an imperative, as crime and fragmented communities reduce the life chances and opportunities of individuals. Sustainable agriculture is dependent on sustainable production and therefore safety is a collective responsibility for all in the sector. The core of the Western Cape Government Recovery plan is human dignity. The impact of a lack of safety measures across the sector negatively impacts on the sector and therefore creating safe spaces,  speaks to the very core of our foundational values of dignity, equality and freedom. A person’s freedom and dignity cannot be fully realised if she/he lives in fear of their safety, be it in their personal space and or in the work environment.

Our producers and agri-workers, as the agents, to enable our food security, deserve to be acknowledged, appreciated and protected. As long as our producers live in fear, and are attacked without reason, the nation will suffer. For this reason, the Department of Agriculture prioritised Rural Safety as a Ministerial Priority and Rural Safety has been institutionalised and formally signed off and approved in August 2020. In this regard, the Department has taken the lead in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Rural Safety chaired by Minister Meyer and Technical Committee on Rural Safety chaired by the Deputy Director General (DDG), Mr Darryl Jacobs

Furthermore, a Rural Safety Desk has been established within the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.  The desk provides a platform for the public, farmers/producers, agri workers and agricultural stakeholders to log enquiries, queries, and matters on rural safety. A dedicated rural safety desk email address has been created: Ruralsafety@elsenburg.com