brief van n boer....

'n Afrikaner boer skryf 'n oop brief aan Tony Ehrenreich "-- Ek is vanaand
baie hartseer terwyl ek hierdie brief sit en skryf. Ek is ' n veertig jarige
wit boer. Danksy jou, is ek vandag een van 'n groep mense wat gehaat word in
hierdie land. Meneer Ehrenreich, in 1994 het ons almal onderneem om 'n nuwe
Suid-Afrika te bou. 'n Beter, nie-rassistiese, gelyke, reënboog nasie. Ons
het so mooi begin, met die beste leier in die wêreld. 'n Man wat na 27 jaar
in die tronk steeds besef het ons moet die verlede vergeet en saam vorentoe
'n nasie bou. Maar meneer Ehrenreich, vanaand pyn hierdie wit boer se hart.
Dieselfde kleur hart as joune. Hier rondom my brand die land.

Hierdie land waarvoor ek so lief is. Meneer Ehrenreich, ek bestuur 'n
besigheid wat opgebou is oor 'n honderd-en-vyftig jaar. Ja, hierdie
besigheid is ouer as die ANC, so dit is iets werd vandag. Hierdie besigheid
is egter uitgelewer aan die internasionale vryemark. Ondanks die feit dat
die regering van Suid-Afrika die grootste deel van die inkomste kry (14% BTW
en 30% Inkomste belasting), kry my besigheid geen beskerming teen invoere,
oorsese ge-subsidieerde produkte of natuurrampe nie. Desnieteenstaande
produseer ek jaarliks genoeg kos vir 1500 Suid-Afrikaners. Vyftig siele leef
permanent vanaf hierdie boerdery. Vyftig mense wat elke aand warm bad en met
'n vol maag in 'n warm bed gaan slaap. Vyftig mense wat nie bekommerd hoef
te wees wat môre vir hul en hul kinders inhou nie. (Ongelukkig moet hulle
van vandag af baie bekommerd wees oor wat jy, Tina en Marius Fransman
kwytraak.)

Meneer Ehrenreich, dit mag dalk vanuit jul leke perspektief lyk of ek 'n ryk
boer is, maar gaan vra gerus my bankbestuurder hoeveel geld daar in my
bankrekening is teen die tyd dat my oes klaar voorberei is. Vra gerus die
ekonome van Suid-Afrika hoeveel is die skuldlas in die landbou-sektor. Dis
nie omdat boere sleg met geld werk nie, inteendeel, dis die aard van die
natuur en voedselproduksie waarin ons moet opereer. Ja, meneer Ehrenreicht
nes my voorvaders en my mede boere, neem ek elke jaar 'n groot risiko om die
oes voor te berei, sonder enige waarborge. Ek gaan leen geld by die bank,
gaan koop kunsmis, diesel, onkruiddoder en betaal lone, sonder die
versekering dat ek 'n opbrengs op daardie lening gaan kry. Dis hoekom almal
boerdery 'n dobbelspel noem. Jy en jou mede ANC leiers sal egter nie hierdie
beginsel verstaan nie want julle gebruik mos regeringsgeld om al jul planne
uit te voer. Daardie geld wat vir die armes bedoel was, wat gebruik moes
word om werk te skep in Suid-Afrika. Hoekom doen jy en jou mede ANC leiers
nie ook dieselfde as ons boere nie? Hoekom gaan leen julle nie ook by die
bank geld en woeker daarmee nie?

Hierdie plase en eiendom wat julle nou afbrand was opgebou uit niks.

Hoekom wil jul net altyd bestaande bates afbreek of verdeel en belastinggeld
mors? Ons moet tog die koek groter maak sodat daar vir almal 'n happie is,
nie kleiner nie. Dis entrepeneurs en bouers soos ek wat dit kan doen,
landbouers. Hoekom sweep jy nie ook die werkloses op as jou mede ANC leiers
R250miljoen op 'n huis spandeer nie? Hoekom is jy tjoepstil as die arm
kinders van hierdie land nie skoolboeke kry nie, terwyl jou mede
lands-leiers in vliegtuie rondrits, van die een partytjie na die ander, om
tenders aan vriende en familie uit te deel nie? Hoekom hoor ons nie dan van
jou of Marius nie? Nee meneer Ehrenreich, jy verkies eerder om armes en
oningeligtes op te sweep om werkplekke af te breek. Die kinders van
Suid-Afrika sal eendag van jou lees in die geskiedenis boeke, maar nie soos
jy jou verbeel nie. Die groot ironie is dat daar vele leiers soos jy in die
verlede was.

Leiers wat burgers van 'n land teen mekaar opgesweep het. Leiers wat mense
aangemoedig het om af te breek, eerder as op te bou. Hoe gaan dit nou in
daardie lande? Waar werk hulle nou? Jou naam sal in dieselfde hoofstuk as
Robert Mugabe se naam geskryf staan. Sy land se mense werk nou in jou
kinders se plek hier in Suid-Afrika. Waar gaan Suid-Afrika se mense heen
trek as julle al die werkplekke hier afgebrand het? Jy het duidelik nie na
meneer Mandela geluister nie!
Gaan vra hom môre-oggend of hy trots is op wat jy doen vir die mense van
hierdie land. Meneer Ehrenreich, ek wens die kinders van hierdie land sien
jou vir wat jy is en kan my sien vir wat ek is. Ek is lief vir hulle en
hierdie land, jy is nie. Jy en jou mede ANC leiers voel niks vir hulle of
hierdie land nie. Ek hoop die armes van hierdie land sien dat hul net pionne
in jul siek magspel is. Dat jy en Marius Fransman net aan jul eie politieke
posisies, met die gevolglike finansiele vergoeding, dink. Dat niemand meer
vat by armes en op hulself spandeer as die ANC leiers van hierdie land nie.
Meneer Ehrenreich, ek is 'n beter Suid-Afrikaner as jy. Ek is nie 'n rassis
nie, jy is. Ek het nie 'n verskuilde agenda nie, jy het. Ek wil hierdie land
opbou, ek wil kos produseer en vir mense 'n werk gee. Wat wil jy doen?

Like!

Very well written.

A Cape Town’s high school principal’s open letter to South African president Jacob Zuma has gone viral. Here is the text:

 Dear President Zuma

 It’s two years to the day when Gareth Cliff, a local media celebrity, wrote an open letter to you. It caused quite a stir at the time. And as I was thinking about what I was going to say to the Class of 2012 of my school, his letter came to mind. As I re-read it I realised it was about time for another one. Not quite as controversial perhaps but nevertheless another open letter borne out of my desire to see the 200 matrics that we’re about to send you, fulfil their dreams in a positive, dynamic South Africa.

 My name is Stephen Price. I am the Principal of Bergvliet High School here in the Western Cape. Some would describe this school as a ‘former Model C school’... a description generally used to justify why other schools are underperforming. But that is another discussion.

 You see, right now I am addressing close on 1000 teachers, parents and pupils at the Valedictory Service of the Class of 2012 of my school. It is a special occasion, full of excitement and expectation, of joy and sadness, of hope and trepidation, and it will be a day for them to remember. Their last official day of school. I’d like to tell you a little bit about them. But, before I do, consider this.

 For the past 12 years or so every single person in this hall has been working towards this one goal. Their educators, their families and themselves. And in the past 5 years it has been our mission at Bergvliet High to develop in these young people, a revival of respect, a unity of purpose, a spirit of participation and more importantly, a sense of hope. Values we believe that will stand them in good stead in the ‘big wide world’ out there. Values that we should be seeing in the leaders of our country.
 In Gareth’s letter he outlined various suggestions that he believed you needed to pay urgent attention to. Sadly you, and our Government, have not responded with anything resembling leadership and we have lurched from one crisis to another over the past 24 months. I believe that many of Gareth’s suggestions are still valid notwithstanding the crudity of his delivery at times. But I share his deep sense of frustration because, like him, I believe in the future of this country and our youth.
 What follows is what my staff and I have taught our 200 matrics at Bergvliet High and I would venture you and our Government could do with a few lessons in this regard. Let me tell you what we have done.

 A Revival of Respect – we have taught these youngsters about our shared heritage, about our country, about each other, about the value of treating others with respect, about being proud of who they are and about loyalty and integrity. But this is what we were up against from you and our Government, our elected leaders – continuing rampant corruption, fraud, self enrichment, misuse of public funds, the appointment of family and supporters regardless of ability, the manipulation of the justice system by convicted criminals - Shaik, Selebi come to mind and finally the massacre at Marikana. You let us down at every turn. You did not care. You lacked leadership. But most importantly you have undermined everything we tried to teach our young charges. Our Government has not, under your leadership, developed a revival of respect. Well, we are sending you 200 young South Africans who know what respect is, who know the value of others, who are proud of where they come from, who are proud of this country and who are loyal, passionate and honest. My request to you is that you show them the respect they deserve. They might be young but they are citizens of this country and they will be our leaders one day. Take them but don’t mess them around. Provide them with opportunity – they will create the jobs you need – we taught them how. Respect them sir. I do.

 A Unity of Purpose - my staff have taught our matrics to work together, to understand that each of them has a different and unique role to play in achieving the common goal, that without a vision people will perish, that if we all pull in different directions we will never achieve anything and that our strength is in the whole not the individual. Again you and our Government have let us down. We have watched in dismay as the unions, the factions within the Government, the personal agenda’s of our elected leaders and influential individuals, have dragged the people of this country further apart, ever deeper into a pit of despair and ever backward and away from the vision that we all bough t into in 1994. Why did you do that? Is the Alliance more important than the future of our matrics? Is Mr Malema so important that he can do and say what he wants and, by doing so, undermines any unity of purpose? Is it all ‘just politics’? Is the culture of entitlement that prevails amongst our people and fostered by union, alliance and populist leaders, worth more than the value of hard work? Again we are sending you 200 young South Africans who know the value of hard work, of having a vision and working towards it and who understand that in order to achieve the vision they have to work side by side, shoulder to shoulder with each other. We are giving you 200 young South African eager to be a part of the solution. Please use every single one of them. I personally recommend them. They won’t let you down. They will work hard. I know.

A Spirit of Participation – my staff have worked above and beyond the call of duty to provide every opportunity for our children. Clubs, societies, community service, sport, art, music, drama, endurance, debating, quizzes, National Olympiads, culture, recycling, continuing education, incoming and outgoing tours, exposure to exchange students from Germany, USA, Reunion, Canada, Australia, China and the UK, refugees from French speaking Africa and a myriad of extracurricular courses on project management, philosophy, engineering, design, music and art to name but a few. Every one of our students has had equal opportunity to be part of a vibrant 21st century South African school and the benefits have been incredible. Sportsmanship, empathy, understanding, comradeship, connection, health and wellness, competition, talent, strength, intellectual growth, stamina, love of learning, service to others, understanding the needs of others over self, leadership, courage, passion....I could go on and on.  But what example do you set? Instead of building up, you break down. Lack of school sport structures, bureaucratic interference in performing schools, constant changes to curriculum, lack of text books, lack of community infrastructure and your lip service to policy that outlines wonderful aims and objectives. We couldn’t wait for you to deliver. So we did it ourselves. Our parents got involved, paid their school fees, supported our teachers, gave them benefits that you should have provided and this allowed my staff to give more and more. Do I hear the hadedas shouting ‘former Model C school’ at this point? Probably....but that’s your fault I’m afraid. You’ve not done enough to raise the level of involvement in education. We witness the collapse of the Eastern Cape Education Dept, Limpopo and instead of solutions we have officials avoiding accountability, scurrying for cover and making excuses.

 But here’s a thought. We have just produced 200 hundred young South Africans that are not afraid of rolling up their sleeves and getting involved. We’ve taught then the value of participation. Put them into work programmes.... Helen might be able to help you in this regard...... into learnerships.... we have 6 trainee teachers permanently stationed at our school..... into sport and teaching, into apprenticeships, into corporate South Africa and I can guarantee you things will start to happen. But don’t delay as many of them are looking to opportunities across the ocean and we need them here, you need them here. Tell them you want them to stay. I would.
 
And finally Mr President -I’ve always wanted to say that - A Sense of Hope. Hope – not in the sense of wishful thinking, not simply in the sense of a positive attitude, of being optimistic without reason but rather hope in the sense of confident expectation based on a solid foundation. That’s what we’ve given our children at Bergvliet High. We’ve given them something to strive for, to look forward to, a vision, a better life for all....sound familiar? Why then does my DUX scholar, scoring over 90% in all her subjects, not get accepted into UCT or Stellenbosch for medicine? Why are her hopes being dashed? They should be knocking down the door to enrol her. Not your fault I hear you say....nothing to do with you. I’m sorry sir but it has everything to do with you.

 Gareth Cliff said “India and China are churning out new, brilliant, qualified people at a rate that makes us look like losers. South Africa has a proud history of innovation, pioneering and genius. This is the only way we can advance our society and economy beyond merely coping.” She IS one of these people that Gareth is describing…..and, believe it or not, we have 199 more like her. We are giving them all to you. Give them HOPE...because my staff have nurtured, grown and developed this hope in our youngsters. Do everything in your power to make it happen. They are ready and waiting and keen as mustard. Stop focusing on Mangaung. We have 200 matrics that deserve your attention. And they deserve it now….not after Mangaung.
 
Thank you for reading this (I hope you do) and I quote Gareth again to end off.

 â€œWe know who we are now, we care about our future – and so should you.”
 
Kind regards

Stephen Price
Principal

My heart goes out to the farmer that wrote this letter, for he and people like him are the salt of the earth who love what they do and treat the people that work on their farm like a family. I believe him when he challenges Ehrenreich to check his bank account, that the farming business is only surviving, however still providing work for a few people and food security for our country. It is the story of many small businesses in this country and especially farming.

The farmer directs his letter at Marius Fransman and Tony Ehrenreich and if either one did get to read it, would they take it all in, understand or even respond.
These two ANC comrades have their own agenda to fill and it seems they are playing dirty politics. I hope the people of South Africa see through them and place their X in the appropriate place come next election.
If and when the ANC start losing support over the next few years I hope they don't employ the same strategy that Mugabe and ZANUPF did in Zimbabwe by discrediting the farming community in order to gain political points and votes, thus keeping them in power for longer. South Africa must be different this time, we have the ability to show up these agitators for who they are.

The Western Cape will take a giant leap backwards if Fransman, Ehrenreich and his cronies ever come to power.

Dit is tyd dat die moere meganiseer en die ondankbare barbare in hul moere instuur!

Ek is elke dag op sealine en sien hoe al hierdie dingiekies in die land swaar op ons almal se harte le. Ek sien hoe negatief die mense is en hoe vinnig mense is om mekaar uitmekaar uit te ruk. Die ANC is besig om te verloor mense en dit is reeds nou dat hulle al die vuilste kaarte in die boek sal speel. Dit is nou dat ons as n nasie moet saamstaan en mekaar moet onderstreun. Ek bid vir die boere want dinge gaan nog baie moeiliker word.

^^..

daar was mos gese: hulle sal die wes-kaap onrigeerbaar maak.

is dit die begin?

Hi
I am a farmer from Robertson. Our 100 strong permanent labour force receive the following:

Basic wage plus 20% bonus is R100/day but most of our work is on piece work so they earn between R500 and R1000 a week without bonus.
Add in free housing. Even my most basic housing where 5 people live is of a better quality than hop huisies.
Secured tenure of housing.
Electricity at a subsidized industrial rate (65c per kW/h)
Free medical including their kids and wive (even if she is not working)
Grazing lands where we supply the free fencing, shock machine and electricity.
Free funeral plan.
Everyone is a permanent worker, no casuals. We have 20 hectares of citrus that we just break even most years but it gives our staff work in quiet winter periods.
2 years ago we built a computer room for the local primary school.
We pay for 2 remedial teachers at the school.
We pay for 2 homework teachers to ensure homework gets done.
Bursaries for well-performing pupils to go to a better high school and for universities and tech.
Support for the oldest rural rugby club in SA- The Evergreens!
We have not fired anybody for over 5 years but instead work with the situation so they can improve their lives (mostly alcohol related stuff)
We got 96% on our last BBBEE audit and we did not even do anything differently just collected proof about what we have been doing for many years.
Stable and happy community. This requires alot of effort- a chat here and there, working with the bad eggs etc.
No unions just a strong and vocal workers committee. I love the committee meetings, people say their say, we talk and work out solutions. I always feel energised after them.
Our staff do extremely well in the Farmworker of the Year competitions. In 2011 one of the men was overall best in the Western Cape.
Provide hope and stability in these uncertain times.

The facts about the last few weeks are that the vast majority of farm workers who live on farms have not been striking.
The strikers/anarchists you see in the media have either been bussed in or are those who do not work at all.
There has been massive intimidation.
It is not about the wages, it is politics. (COSATU has never picketed outside Aurora Mines!)
R70/day if you are a casual labourer living in a squatter shack is unacceptably low. (How farmers can allow an untrained casual to work on their vines is beyond me. It is skilled, hard work. Dit is agteruit boerdery!)
The average price per ton of wine grapes that the farmer gets is R2200 and excise tax alone is R1300.
Farming never pays well. Even I earn at least a third of what my friends in the cities earn. OK living on a farm is alot cheaper and so much nicer.
The Department of Labour will only make their announcement about the new minimum wages in February after following the stipulated procedures. Not 4 December a la Tony and Marius!

Anyway enough of a rant, I am off to catch some bass!

The people on ground zero has long forgotten and moved on !

The people in government work very hard to remind them every day that they shouldn't forget and move on !

U wanne see terrible racism ? Then go and deal with government !

They will rather see a project fail than accept that sometimes u need the minority to help the majority

I certaily hope that someone who reads the farmers letter and knows Ehrenreich and reads this gives it to Ehrenreich to read, that is if he can read...

I certaily hope that someone who reads the farmers letter and knows Ehrenreich gives it to him to read, that is if he can read...

.....goeie stukkie leesstof.

Like most of us I am also a proud Saffer, own business, working our butts off, providing jobs, paying vast amounts of taxes and generally speaking, sucking up loads of crap for the 'previlige' of conducting it legally, ethically and productively. Never give up/in remains one of my favorite sayings,....will never leave SA, I say....proudly South African I say.
Then, why do I find myself thinking I would be doing the country good if I retract/disengage from the economy ? I realize that it is going to add to the immediate distress of more people, add hunger, push up crime, poorer levels of education and basic services, less self respect for the vast majority of our nation....and yes, certainly me and my family shall also be affected negatively.
The notion of standing up from the ashes would not go down well with economists, business people, farmers, investors, mining houses and and and....but in my mind if we all take a huge hit now we can get on with making it better so much quicker. This country has been steadily degenerating for almost two decades, if we keep on doing what we are doing for the next 20, I am certainly not going to be a proud citizen anymore. The abuse of this land has taken its toll and we have gone into survival mode, looking out for oneself and forgetting that unity and working hand in hand is the way to go. Like the farmer I want to build this country, not be tool for delaying the inevitable.

Ek kan 'n laaaang brief skryf oor dit maar my gemoed is nie nou reg nie, miskien se ek iets wat liewers moes gebly het. Ek besit wynplaas en drankwinkel en werk donners hard vir wat ek het. Ek betaal die min. loon en is die jaar 3 keer ondersoek en hul se als is reg. Die staat verwag ek moet als doen maar vat my geld. Kort voorbeeld. 10 000 L wyn staat vat 3 000 L (aksyns belasting) nou het ek 7 000 L oor. Dit is gevat nadat dit reeds in tenk is en vergeet van wat voels en siektes en diewe reeds vir hul self opgeeis het.Nou moet my plaas se pruduksie koste nog verhaal word van die 7 000 L. Volgens ons wynboere as jy die somme gemaak het verdien die staat meer per ton as ek. As die lone so swak was hoekom werk my mense slegs teen 60% per week? As die loon gaan verdubbel dan staak ek boerdery want dan werk hulle net 3 dae en suip die res. Dit is nou appelkoos tyd by ons en my drankwinkel omset se dit. Die meerderheid van gesin pluk appelkoos (+_4 per huis) en neem nou R 1800.00 huis toe en was heel winter gewoond aan R450.00 nou wat oor is word nie gespaar maar gaan vir drank. Ek se jul ek is moeg vir als en raak depresief oor als. GOD SAVE AS:X:X

its time that the right people listen etc.
maar neewat, ek sien dis net aftraande pad.................................................................................... menede agteruit boer.


swaar tye le voor kerels, swaar tye.

sterkte

The truth!

11719 plaas aanvalle die afgelope 21jaar!

I understand this is a very serious topic and I agree with both letters. To lighten the moment, this is what someone shared on Facebook:

I finally received my tax return for 2012 back from the SARS. It puzzles me! They are questioning the number of dependents I claimed?

I guess it was because of my response to the question: "List all dependents?" I replied:
16 million unemployed people; 8 million illegal immigrants; 1,5 million drug dealers; nearly a million people in overcrowded prisons; 234 members of Parliament and a useless President with 20 wives........

SARS suggest that this is NOT correct?

I KEEP ASKING MYSELF, WHO DID I MISS?

I’m really becoming forgetful in my old age...!!!!

Thanks for posting the letter!

Ive attached a pdf from 2004, which makes very compelling reading for those of you who are interested in South Africa's farmlands. Needless to say, it does not seem as if the situation is improving

As I am not a farmer, I cant comment on the current circumstances... but would greatly appreciate insight from those of you who are more closely involved.

charlkruger wrote:

Thanks for posting the letter!

Ive attached a pdf from 2004, which makes very compelling reading for those of you who are interested in South Africa's farmlands. Needless to say, it does not seem as if the situation is improving

As I am not a farmer, I cant comment on the current circumstances... but would greatly appreciate insight from those of you who are more closely involved.

Click to expand...

Very good book!