Premier Zille Urges Marius Fransman to Co-operate for Stability in Western Cape

This morning I repeatedly tried to make telephonic contact with Mr Marius Fransman, ANC leader in the Western Cape today. His phone was on voice-mail. I therefore sent him the following urgent SMS:

Good day Marius. We are heading towards anarchy. 1000’s of jobs will be lost and an industry potentially destroyed. I am receiving horrific reports of farmworker intimidation. Min Oliphant must be recalled from abroad and begin negotiations on the national minimum wage with all stakeholders. It is essential that we remove politics from this matter and stabilise the situation. That is the call you must make. I am extremely worried that lives are in danger and that people will retaliate. Pls support me on this. Urgently. Helen Zille

Mr Fransman must repudiate the kind of incitement that has been experienced across the province, captured in a recent statement released by COSATU which announced: “Marikana has come to farms!!!”

I have also written to President Zuma saying that he must deploy the SANDF to help stabilise the situation as the police are too thinly stretched, despite the sterling job they have been doing. This letter will be released at the briefing at the Joint Operations Centre at 1pm today.