Farmers' union advises members not to vote in local polls

BLOEMFONTEIN Aug 18 Sapa

The Free State Agricultural Union on Friday became the second
provincial farmers' union to dissuade members from voting in
November's local government elections.

The Transvaal Agricultural Union last week said its members
would not take part in the elections if certain conditions were not
met by the government.

FSAU president Dr Piet Gous said commercial farmers, who with
their taxes would be paying the major share of the costs incurred
by local governments, had insisted on 50 per cent representation on
third-tier governing bodies. After a series of negotiations their
precondition had been rejected, he said.

"The FSAU therefore agreed at its congress that the union will
totally withdraw from participating in the elections and we refuse
any future involvement," Gous said.

"The congress has also decided that every member of the union
would paralyse the functioning of rural councils."

The union would reconsider its decision only if the possibility
remained for farmers to obtain 50 per cent representation on local
councils.

The provincial government would receive the full support of the
farming community if it declared itself willing to accede to the
"fair and valid" request of the Free State farming community, Gous
added.

The union appealed to Free State premier Patrick Lekota to step
in to continue the "proud record of positive co-operation" in the
province.

Gous said farmers were not generally in favour of boycotts or
withdrawal actions but regarded them as a last resort to achieve
their ends.

"We shall, however, not be satisfied or persuaded with crumbs
to get involved in governmental structures which depend on our
co-operation," he said.