RUSTIN SHAWE: Together, we are organised agriculture

For those who could not join us at Congress this year, we share the particularly meaningful message delivered by Rustin Shawe as he opened the day. It was a thoughtful reminder of why organised agriculture matters, why every member has a role to play, and why our ability to stand together remains one of agriculture’s greatest strengths.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, fellow farmers, representatives of organised agriculture, distinguished guests and friends. It is a great privilege to welcome you to the Kwanalu Congress. I would like to share a short reading from Ecclesiastes 4, verses 9 to 12:

“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labour:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

There is also an important principle in Matthew 5, verse 25, which encourages us to settle matters with one another before a dispute reaches the courts. I think these verses are particularly appropriate for us today.

Farming is an incredibly independent way of life. We are used to solving our own problems, making our own decisions and getting on with the job.

But Ecclesiastes reminds us that independence does not mean we are stronger alone.
When one person falls, another can help him up. When one is threatened, two can stand together. And when people are bound together by a common purpose, that bond becomes difficult to break.
To me, that is what organised agriculture should be.

We will not always agree. Put enough farmers in one room and we can probably find something to disagree about! But we do share a common purpose: protecting agriculture and ensuring that farming remains viable for the generations that follow us.

Matthew gives us another important lesson. When disagreement comes, we should first make every reasonable effort to talk to one another and find a solution before turning to litigation.

Once people end up on opposite sides of a courtroom, relationships are difficult to repair. And we should remember that the cost of litigation is ultimately carried by the members themselves.

So, for me, these two passages give us a simple message:
Stand together, help one another, and when we disagree, first try to find a way back to one another.

Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together today and for the privilege of working the land and producing food. Bless this Congress. Give us wisdom in our discussions, humility to listen, courage to speak honestly and patience when we disagree. Protect our farmers, our farmworkers and their families, and bless the work of their hands. Help us to work together and build a stronger and more united agricultural community. Bless agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout South Africa. Amen.

Ladies and gentlemen, I must admit that I am not particularly fond of making speeches. When PJ asked me the other day to open the Congress, I started stressing about it – and I have been stressed ever since.

Then my son asked whether, while he was away at school, if I would artificially inseminate his chickens for him. I said to my wife, “I think I would rather learn how to artificially inseminate a chicken than stand up and make this speech!” At least with the chicken, if something goes wrong, it cannot tell everyone at the Congress about it afterwards!

But seriously, PJ, thank you for the opportunity. I am genuinely honoured to welcome you all.

I was asked to say a few words about what organised agriculture means to me. I think it comes down to something quite simple: there are many things happening outside our farm gates that we simply cannot deal with individually.[CK1.1]

Foot-and-mouth disease is a perfect example. An outbreak does not only affect the farmer whose cattle are infected. It affects livestock movements, auctions, prices, exports and confidence throughout the industry.

The same applies to electricity, failing roads, rural crime, water, labour, land matters and environmental legislation. One farmer cannot effectively engage government on all these issues while still trying to run his farm.

That is why we need organised agriculture. It gives farmers a seat at the table where decisions affecting our farms, our workers and our communities are being made. But for organised agriculture to work, farmers themselves have to participate.

We often hear the question: “What does Kwanalu do for me?”
That is a fair question. Any organisation representing its members must be accountable to them.

But perhaps we should also ask ourselves: “What have I done for Kwanalu?”
Have I attended the meetings?
Have I raised my concerns constructively?
Have I participated in the elections?
Have I supported capable people prepared to give their time to serve?

When we become unhappy with an organisation, it can be tempting to stand outside it, criticise it or simply create another organisation.

Sometimes change is necessary. But continually dividing ourselves into smaller groups can weaken the very voice we are trying to strengthen.

If we believe Kwanalu needs to change, then let us get involved and change it. If we believe different leadership is needed, participate and vote for the people we believe should lead.

The people serving on the Kwanalu board are not outsiders looking down on agriculture. They are farmers themselves. They face the same droughts, rising costs, animal-health problems, labour challenges and uncertainty as everyone else in this room.

Ultimately, Kwanalu does not belong to the board or the staff. It belongs to its members.

That does not mean we must always agree. We should challenge decisions when necessary, ask difficult questions and hold leadership accountable.

But there is a difference between constructive disagreement and division. And that brings me back to the Scripture we started with: “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Our strength does not come from pretending that we all agree. Our strength comes from being able to disagree, work through those disagreements and still stand together when agriculture needs us.

We need an organisation capable of sitting across the table from government and saying, respectfully but firmly: This is what is happening on the ground. This is how it is affecting farmers. And this is what needs to change. That voice carries far more weight when thousands of farmers stand behind it.

We also need to bring the next generation into organised agriculture. Our children may inherit our farms, but they will also inherit the challenges surrounding those farms. They need to understand that the future of farming will not be decided only inside the farm gate. It will also be influenced by decisions made in boardrooms, government departments and Parliament.

Despite all the challenges, I remain positive about agriculture. Farmers are resilient people.
We plant without knowing exactly what the weather will do.
We breed livestock without knowing exactly what the market will do.
We invest despite uncertainty.
And every year, we get up and do it all again.

That is either resilience or madness – but I prefer to call it resilience!
But resilience does not mean doing everything alone.

So perhaps the message I would like us to carry into today’s Congress is simply this:
Get involved.
If you disagree, speak up.
If something needs changing, help change it.
If someone falls, help him up.
And when agriculture needs defending, stand together.
Because separately we are individual farmers.
Together, we are organised agriculture.

And, as Ecclesiastes reminds us: “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to welcome you to the Kwanalu Congress.

May today’s discussions be constructive and valuable, and may the work we do here contribute to a stronger future for agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.

Rustin’s closing words proved a fitting hope for the day ahead. Kwanalu’s 26th Congress was indeed one of constructive discussion, valuable engagement and, importantly, members coming together with a shared commitment to a stronger future for agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.

Vir diegene wat nie vanjaar by die Kongres kon aansluit nie, deel ons die besonder betekenisvolle boodskap wat Rustin Shawe gelewer het toe hy die dag geopen het. Dit was ‘n deurdagte herinnering aan waarom georganiseerde landbou saak maak, waarom elke lid ‘n rol het om te speel, en waarom ons vermoë om saam te staan ​​een van die landbou se grootste sterkpunte bly.

Goeiemôre, dames en here, mede-boere, verteenwoordigers van georganiseerde landbou, gewaardeerde gaste en vriende. Dit is ‘n groot voorreg om u by die Kwanalu-kongres te verwelkom. Ek wil graag ‘n kort leesstuk uit Prediker 4, verse 9 tot 12 deel:

“Twee is beter as een,

want hulle het ‘n goeie beloning vir hul arbeid:

As een van hulle val,

kan die een die ander ophelp.

Maar julle moet jammer voel vir iemand wat val

en niemand het om hom op te help nie.

Al is die een oorweldig,

kan twee homself verdedig.

‘n Drie-draadige koord breek nie gou nie.”

Daar is ook ‘n belangrike beginsel in Matteus 5, vers 25, wat ons aanmoedig om sake met mekaar te skik voordat ‘n despuut die howe bereik. Ek dink hierdie verse is veral gepas vir ons vandag.

Boerdery is ‘n ongelooflik onafhanklike lewenswyse. Ons is gewoond daaraan om ons eie probleme op te los, ons eie besluite te neem en met die werk aan te gaan.

Maar Prediker herinner ons daaraan dat onafhanklikheid nie beteken dat ons alleen sterker is nie.

Wanneer een persoon val, kan ‘n ander hom ophelp. Wanneer een bedreig word, kan twee saamstaan. En wanneer mense deur ‘n gemeenskaplike doel saamgebind word, word daardie band moeilik om te breek.

Vir my is dit wat georganiseerde landbou moet wees.

Ons sal nie altyd saamstem nie. Sit genoeg boere in een vertrek en ons kan waarskynlik iets vind om oor te verskil! Maar ons deel wel ‘n gemeenskaplike doel: die beskerming van landbou en die versekering dat boerdery lewensvatbaar bly vir die geslagte wat ons volg.

Matteus gee ons nog ‘n belangrike les. Wanneer meningsverskil ontstaan, moet ons eers elke redelike poging aanwend om met mekaar te praat en ‘n oplossing te vind voordat ons ons tot litigasie wend.

Sodra mense aan teenoorgestelde kante van ‘n hofsaal beland, is verhoudings moeilik om te herstel. En ons moet onthou dat die koste van litigasie uiteindelik deur die lede self gedra word.

So, vir my gee hierdie twee gedeeltes vir ons ‘n eenvoudige boodskap:

Staan saam, help mekaar, en wanneer ons verskil, probeer eers om ‘n pad terug na mekaar te vind.

Laat ons bid.

Hemelse Vader, dankie dat U ons vandag bymekaar gebring het en vir die voorreg om die land te bewerk en voedsel te produseer. Seën hierdie Kongres. Gee ons wysheid in ons besprekings, nederigheid om te luister, moed om eerlik te praat en geduld wanneer ons verskil. Beskerm ons boere, ons plaaswerkers en hulle families, en seën die werk van hulle hande. Help ons om saam te werk en ‘n sterker en meer verenigde landbougemeenskap te bou. Seën landbou in KwaZulu-Natal en regdeur Suid-Afrika. Amen.

Dames en here, ek moet erken dat ek nie besonder lief is vir toesprake nie. Toe PJ my die ander dag vra om die Kongres te open, het ek daaroor begin stres – en ek is sedertdien gestres.

Toe vra my seun of ek, terwyl hy by die skool was, sy hoenders kunsmatig vir hom sou insemineer. Ek sê vir my vrou: “Ek dink ek sal liewer leer hoe om ‘n hoender kunsmatig te insemineer as om op te staan ​​en hierdie toespraak te lewer!” Ten minste met die hoender, as iets verkeerd loop, kan dit nie later vir almal by die Kongres daarvan vertel nie!

Maar ernstig, PJ, dankie vir die geleentheid. Ek is werklik geëerd om julle almal te verwelkom.

Ek is gevra om ‘n paar woorde te sê oor wat georganiseerde landbou vir my beteken. Ek dink dit kom neer op iets heel eenvoudigs: daar gebeur baie dinge buite ons plaashekke wat ons eenvoudig nie individueel kan hanteer nie.

Bek-en-klouseer is ‘n perfekte voorbeeld. ‘n Uitbraak raak nie net die boer wie se beeste besmet is nie. Dit beïnvloed veebewegings, veilings, pryse, uitvoere en vertroue dwarsdeur die bedryf.

Dieselfde geld vir elektrisiteit, verswakkende paaie, landelike misdaad, water, arbeid, grondsake en omgewingswetgewing. Een boer kan nie effektief die regering oor al hierdie kwessies betrek terwyl hy steeds probeer om sy plaas te bestuur nie.

Daarom het ons georganiseerde landbou nodig. Dit gee boere ‘n plek aan die tafel waar besluite wat ons plase, ons werkers en ons gemeenskappe raak, geneem word. Maar vir georganiseerde landbou om te werk, moet boere self deelneem.

Ons hoor dikwels die vraag: “Wat doen Kwanalu vir my?”

Dit is ‘n billike vraag. Enige organisasie wat sy lede verteenwoordig, moet aan hulle verantwoording doen.

Maar miskien moet ons onsself ook afvra: “Wat het ek vir Kwanalu gedoen?”

Het ek die vergaderings bygewoon?

Het ek my bekommernisse konstruktief geopper?

Het ek aan die verkiesings deelgeneem?

Het ek bekwame mense ondersteun wat bereid is om hul tyd te gee om te dien?

Wanneer ons ongelukkig raak met ‘n organisasie, kan dit aanloklik wees om buite dit te staan, dit te kritiseer of bloot ‘n ander organisasie te skep.

Soms is verandering nodig. Maar om onsself voortdurend in kleiner groepe te verdeel, kan die stem wat ons probeer versterk, verswak.

As ons glo dat Kwanalu moet verander, laat ons dan betrokke raak en dit verander. As ons glo dat ander leierskap nodig is, neem deel en stem vir die mense wat ons glo moet lei.

Die mense wat op die Kwanalu-raad dien, is nie buitestaanders wat op landbou neerkyk nie. Hulle is self boere. Hulle staar dieselfde droogtes, stygende koste, dieregesondheidsprobleme, arbeidsuitdagings en onsekerheid in die gesig as almal anders in hierdie vertrek.

Uiteindelik behoort Kwanalu nie aan die raad of die personeel nie. Dit behoort aan sy lede.

Dit beteken nie dat ons altyd moet saamstem nie. Ons moet besluite uitdaag wanneer nodig, moeilike vrae vra en leierskap aanspreeklik hou.

Maar daar is ‘n verskil tussen konstruktiewe meningsverskil en verdeeldheid. En dit bring my terug na die Skrifgedeelte waarmee ons begin het: “‘n Koord van drie drade word nie gou gebreek nie.”

Ons krag kom nie daarvan om voor te gee dat ons almal saamstem nie. Ons krag kom daarvan om te kan verskil, deur daardie meningsverskille te werk en steeds saam te staan ​​wanneer die landbou ons nodig het.

Ons benodig ‘n organisasie wat in staat is om oorkant die tafel van die regering te sit en respekvol maar ferm te kan sê: Dit is wat op die grond gebeur. Dit is hoe dit boere raak. En dit is wat moet verander. Daardie stem dra baie meer gewig wanneer duisende boere daaragter staan.

Ons moet ook die volgende generasie in die georganiseerde landbou inbring. Ons kinders mag dalk ons ​​plase erf, maar hulle sal ook die uitdagings rondom daardie plase erf. Hulle moet verstaan ​​dat die toekoms van boerdery nie net binne die plaashek besluit sal word nie. Dit sal ook beïnvloed word deur besluite wat in direksiesale, regeringsdepartemente en die Parlement geneem word.

Ten spyte van al die uitdagings, bly ek positief oor landbou. Boere is veerkragtige mense.

Ons plant sonder om presies te weet wat die weer gaan doen.

Ons teel vee sonder om presies te weet wat die mark gaan doen.

Ons belê ten spyte van onsekerheid.

En elke jaar staan ​​ons op en doen dit alles weer.

Dit is óf veerkragtigheid óf waansin – maar ek verkies om dit veerkragtigheid te noem!

Maar veerkragtigheid beteken nie om alles alleen te doen nie.

So miskien is die boodskap wat ek graag wil hê ons moet na vandag se Kongres oordra eenvoudig:

Raak betrokke.

As jy nie saamstem nie, praat.

As iets moet verander, help om dit te verander.

As iemand val, help hom op.

En wanneer landbou verdedig moet word, staan ​​saam.

Want afsonderlik is ons individuele boere.

Saam is ons georganiseerde landbou.

En, soos Prediker ons herinner: “’n Driedradige koord breek nie gou nie.”

Dames en here, dit is my voorreg om u by die Kwanalu-kongres te verwelkom.

Mag vandag se besprekings konstruktief en waardevol wees, en mag die werk wat ons hier doen bydra tot ’n sterker toekoms vir landbou in KwaZulu-Natal en Suid-Afrika.

 

Rustin se slotwoorde was ’n gepaste hoop vir die dag wat voorlê. Kwanalu se 26ste Kongres was inderdaad een van konstruktiewe bespreking, waardevolle betrokkenheid en, belangrik, lede wat saamgekom het met ’n gedeelde verbintenis tot ’n sterker toekoms vir landbou in KwaZulu-Natal en Suid-Afrika.