A letter to Malema, from a farm girl

[Nat Quinn]

I sit at work every morning and stress not only about the usual things, but also about a reality that distresses me so much – my parents who farm in the Free State. The message I sent my parents this morning hasn’t “blue ticked” yet.

Julius Malema and the EFF once again chanted the horrific cry of “Kill the Farmer, kill the farmer” during the 10-year anniversary of the EFF at the FNB Stadium. My father is one of those farmers he refers to who devotes their entire lives to providing food to our country through their farming activities, and yet he is branded as a target for violence.

My parents’ house is a farmhouse. Every night when I sleep in the house on the farm, I can’t help but think what I would do if there was a farm attack. Because that’s our reality. It happened to our closest neighbors and also some of my father’s friends. My mother also has to send me a red heart on WhatsApp every morning to reassure me that she is up and running. Our farmers and their families are no longer safe, and that makes me angry.

My father is not just a farmer; He is a father, a grandfather, a husband and a friend. He gets up early every morning to look after the fields and animals so that we can contribute to the food security of our people in Africa. Ironically, however, it is only here in Africa where he is threatened by those who do not realise how important his work is.

Malema and his minions, who do not even understand the true value of farm life, cry out that our farmers must be killed. It makes me wonder what has become of our human dignity and fellow humanity? I plead with all those who repeat this hateful cry to think about the impact of what they preach. Care, even if your father is not a farmer, even if your grandfather was not killed in a farm murder, and even if it is not your children who live in anguish and trembling every night over messages that are not read.

The stress and anxiety I experience every day due to the uncertainty about the safety of my parents and our farm is something I don’t favor anyone. Our farmers don’t want to go to war; they just want to continue their work to provide Africa with food. I ask, please, stand with our farmers, regardless of your background. Do not support the call of hate, but rather extend a hand to those who provide us with food and care for the land we so desperately need.

We need a future where we work together and not fight each other. That is why I work for a place like Solidarity. It’s not a place where I’m simply earning a paycheck, but a place that builds up rather than breaks down others. It is a workplace that instills trust rather than others try to incite hate speech. Our community is small, but we have each other. Working together we can create a safer future for all. Finally, a world famous person, Elon Musk, who does not even know the pain of the farmers and their families, spoke out about this. May others follow his example and use their influence to bring about real change.

[Author]

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