Dag van Verootmoediging | Day of Prayer

English to follow:

23 Januarie 2020

 Agri SA wil graag vra vir ‘n elke Suid-Afrikaner om hande te vat en te bid vir die toekoms van die land, en spesifiek die broodnodige landbousektor.

“Die landbousektor is een van die primêre sektore van die land, wat ‘n rol kan speel om die ekonomie te stimuleer om te groei,” sê Pierre Vercueil, Agri SA President. “Die sektor beleef tans verskeie uitdagings, wat gepaardgaan met politieke- en beleidsonsekerheid oor onder andere grondhervorming en wysiging van artikel 25 van die Grondwet. Die droogte in die westelike-, en Karoogedeeltes van die land het verder ‘n negatiewe impak op die oorlewingsvermoë van talle boere- en plaaswerkergemeenskappe in die streke.”

‘n Suksesvolle kommersiële landbousektor moet, soos deur die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan verlang word, bydra om ekonomiese groei, ontwikkeling en werkskepping te stimuleer. Daarmee saam speel die sektor ook ‘n rol in die bevordering van die land se sosio- maatskaplike doelwitte en produseer tans nog genoegsame voedsel vir die groeiende bevolking, benewens verskeie onsekerhede wat bestaan.

“Ons land staan die jaar voor verskeie uitdagings; om ekonomiese groei te bevorder, werksgeleenthede te skep, korrupsie bloot te lê, beter dienslewering en die veiligheid van mede-landsburgers te verseker,” sê Vercueil. “Onder hierdie omstandighede en ook met die knellende droogte wat in sekere gedeeltes van die land heers, sal die landbousektor steeds voortgaan om sy rol te vervul.”

Daar heers dankbaarheid in groot gedeeltes van die land wat goeie reënneerslae ontvang het. Daar is egter ander dele wat steeds erge droogte ervaar, wat daartoe lei dat mens en dier swaarkry en sukkel om te oorleef.

“Dit is veral nou die tyd om op nuut as mede- gelowiges in alle denominasies en gelowe na mekaar uit te reik. Suid-Afrikaners leef in sensitiewe en moeilike tye.”

Agri SA doen ‘n beroep op alle gelowe, kerke en hulle lidmate om eerskomende Vrydag, 24 Januarie 2020 tussen 13:00 – 14:00, waar dit vir mede-landburgers gerieflik is, vir die volgende voorbidding te doen:

• Vir die regering om die regte politieke besluite in belang van die land en die ekonomie te neem.
• Vir reën in die gebiede wat tans erge droogte ervaar, maar ook dank te betuig vir goeie reënneerslae waar dit voorgekom het.
• Vir goeie landboutoestande die jaar.
• Vir mede-landsburgers se veiligheid, asook die veiligheidstoestand op plase.

Agri SA se strewe is dat landsburgers mekaar se regte moet respekteer, goeie waardes bevorder en in ‘n gees van nasiebou ondersteunend tot mekaar sal optree. Agri SA hoop dat met die versoek vir verootmoediging, dit landsburgers nader aan mekaar sal bring.

Navrae:

Pierre Vercueil

President:  Agri SA

(S)l:  082 524 8636

Cornie Swart

Voorsitter:  Agri SA Algemene Sakekamer

(S): 082 927 7698

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23 January 2020

Agri SA calls on every South African to join hands and to pray for the future of our country, specifically for the much-needed agricultural sector.

“Agriculture is one of the primary sectors of the country that can play a role in stimulating economic growth,” said Agri SA President Pierre Vercueil. “The sector is currently facing various challenges, accompanied by political and policy uncertainty regarding, among others, land reform and the amendment of section 25 of the Constitution. The drought in western parts of the country and the Karoo has also had a negative impact on the ability of many farmer and farmworker communities in these regions to survive.”

A successful commercial agricultural sector must, as required by the National Development Plan, contribute towards stimulating economic growth, development and job creation. The sector also plays a role in promoting the country’s socio-economic objectives and, despite many uncertainties, still produces sufficient food for the country’s growing population.

“This is a year in which our country faces various challenges in promoting economic growth, job creation, exposing corruption, improving service delivery and ensuring the safety of fellow South Africans,” said Vercueil. “In these circumstances, including the devastating drought prevailing in certain parts of the country, the agricultural sector will continue to fulfil its role.”

There is much gratitude in large parts of the country which have received good rains. However, there are other parts where the drought persists, resulting in people and animals suffering immense hardship and struggling to survive.

“Now is the time for us as believers in all denominations and faiths to reach out to each other. South Africans are living in sensitive and difficult times.”

Agri SA calls on all faiths, churches and their members to pray for the following on Friday, 24 January 2020 between 13:00 and 14:00, wherever it is convenient for them:

• For the government to make the right political decisions in the interest of the country and the economy.
• For rain in the areas that continue to experience serious drought conditions, but also to give thanks for the good rains in other parts.
• For favourable farming conditions this year.
• For fellow citizens’ safety, as well as farm safety.

Agri SA strives for a country where citizens respect one another’s rights, promote good values and, in the spirit of nation building, support one another. With this call to prayer, Agri SA hopes it will bring South Africans closer together.

Enquiries:

Pierre Vercueil

President:  Agri SA

(C):  082 524 8636

Cornie Swart

Chair:  Agri SA General Affairs Chamber

(C):  082 927 7698