The DA's Dr Roy Jankielsohn, the official opposition party leader in the Free State, says that each municipality should be provided with the necessary resources to localise rural safety. He says that this is imperative for the well-being of all rural communities, because of the significant economic contribution that the agriculture sector in the Free State plays. Jankielsohn adds that the sector creates countless jobs and largely contributes to food security, which is why the DA wrote to the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mxolisi Dukwana, requesting rural safety to be prioritised.

Eskom invites all emerging farmers and entrepreneurs in agri-processing to enter the Eskom Business Investment Competition, which closes on October 31. In a statement, Eskom's Development Foundation: Chief Executive Officer, Cecil Ramonotsi, said that this year’s competition aims to help emerging farmers commercialise and formalise their businesses. Furthermore, Eskom spokesperson, Madeline Kazinga, tells OFM News that many of the emerging farmers across South Africa are based in rural areas, where formal business management education is lacking. She says Eskom's Business Connect was created to help develop their business skills through workshops, focusing on financial management, leveraging technology for business development and brand positioning.

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President of Free State Agriculture (FSA), Francois Wilken, has spoken on the role of organised agriculture, namely advancing the interests of the farming and agricultural community, as opposed to having a political agenda. He says that it is important to ensure a safe and sustainable agricultural environment. Wilken adds that this can only happen if organised agricultural organisations understand that their role includes influencing or even opposing government policies. He adds that this is a necessity, and that Free State Agriculture will constantly strive to improve the commercial role of agriculture in South Africa. This is why FSA does not support property restriction, as it influences employment and holds the country's economy hostage. He says that they will host a FSA executive meeting this coming week, where discussions to drive this movement will be emphasised for the agricultural enhancement of the Free State. Wilken adds that strong agricultural structures need to be established in order to ensure the survival of agriculture. He ends by saying that working with the government will happen if it should and can, but it will always happen with the main aim of advancing the interests of the agricultural community.

OFM News/Lee Simmons