This was the message to Parliament from more than 107 000 citizens who took part in Free State Agriculture's public campaign to protect property rights and oppose the constitutional amendment of Section 25. Free State Agriculture's president, Francois Wilken, says in a statement that the support from the public shows that the organisation's view on property rights has a much wider support base than just the organisation's agricultural members. The organisation submitted its opposing comments to the parliamentary committee on Friday 13 August. Its reasons for rejecting amendments to Section 25, included local and international investment uncertainty that will further impede employment growth, as well as the concern that the amendment will open the gap for zero compensation of all property.

More than 50 farms have been affected by raging veldfires between Kuruman and Daniëlskuil, which further spread to the Lohatla Military Base in the Northern Cape. Provincial Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform spokesperson, Zandisike Luphahla, tells OFM News that the department was able to, with the aid of Gift of the Givers, transport fodder to the affected areas. He says that the department will continue donating fodder to the affected farmers, which has been stored in one of the department's fodder banks in Vaalharts. Luphahla further adds that the first two loads of more than 100 bales of fodder, which is about 250kg each, have been dispatched to the John Taolo Gaetsewe district.

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And... Four cheetahs are on the loose in the John Taolo Gaetsewe area in the Northern Cape province as of earlier this week. Provincial Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform spokesperson, Zandisike Luphahla, says that the cheetahs have moved approximately five kilometres away from the communities of Tsineng, Matlhwaring and the Ga-Sese River. He adds that the department is working closely with the cheetah outreach foundation to ensure the animals are rescued. Luphahla pleads with the public to not inflict any harm on the cheetahs but instead alert the police and the department once the cheetahs are spotted. Two farm owners in the area of Severn in the Kalahari, have also been activated to be on the lookout and inform the police upon spotting the animals.

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