Pretoria – South Africans need access to their arable land so that they are able to contribute to the nation’s food security, ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, said on Friday.

“We must have access to land. Our people must have access to land. The question of food security cannot be left to the preserve of TAU-SA [Transvaal Agricultural Union SA], a racist farmers organisation,” Mantashe told thousands of ANC supporters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

He said the current farmers in South Africa “want to create an impression that food production is a preserve of white farmers only”.

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“We can be farmers (too), but to be farmers we must have access to land. You can’t be be a farmer unless you farm. You can’t be a writer unless you write. You can’t be a politician unless you are active in politics. Why are we expected to be farmers without accessing the land? Let’s access the land,” said Mantashe.

He was addressing thousands of ANC supporters during the anti-racism march organised by the party.

Traffic was brought to a standstill in Pretoria central on Friday morning as the thousands marched from the Burgers Park in the city centre.

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By midday, the marchers had arrived at the lawns area of the Union Buildings, where loud music was being played from a public address system.

A high security perimeter fence separated the thousands who were clad in yellow ANC t-shirts from the party leadership including several government ministers, Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and Gauteng Premier David Makhura.

Many in the crowds were wearing yellow ANC t-shirts written “Hands off Zuma” and “Vote ANC”. Some were waving placards that said “Register to vote ANC”.

African News Agency