Concern is rising over what many describe as the blatant fanning of racial tension with regard to a planned picket at the Waterpoort police station by a women’s group calling themselves the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa (PWMSA).

The controversial picket, organized by an aggressive, seemingly all-black PWMSA, was officially announced exclusively for the attention of ANC members during the opening of the latest special meeting of the Makhado Municipal Council by the Speaker, Cllr Joan Hoorzuk, on March 29. She announced the date and venue of the picket and called on all ANC councillors to assemble after the council meeting to be briefed in detail about the picket proceedings.

The PWMSA in a media release refers to itself as a "non-sexist, non-racial movement, non-aligned to any political organizations or federation" and "a broad front of women’s grassroots organisations of all kinds." No names of such affiliated "women’s grassroots organisations" are contained in the statement.

The media release in which the picket was announced on 29 March, is teeming with sweeping statements, insulting generalisations and hearsay allegations aimed at a white farm owner in the Waterpoort area. Without quoting any instances or giving any examples, the statement refers to unspecified "all kinds of abuse" and unfounded "continuous eviction and victimization of farm dwellers," and the unspecified "suffering (endured) at the hands of non-progressive, abusive farmer." The media statement calls for support for the picket by inviting all and sundry to "join the PWMSA marchers as we confront abusive farm owners head-on and those who are in support of these acts of human violation." The PWMSA’s call to picket follows a recent Land Claims Court ruling against the burial of a 92-year-old female member of the Tshivula family on the white landowner’s farm. The court dismissed the family’s application to have their deceased mother buried on the farm and no mention is made in the ruling of any evictions, abuse or any suffering of farm workers at the hands of a ‘non-progressive, abusive farmer’.

The proposed picket was to have taken place on Sunday, April 1, with a demand "that the SAPS station commander be released of his duties with immediate effect, because we believe he is biased."

The Chairperson of TAU SA North, Mr Dries Joubert, expressed concern with what he termed "blatant lies" contained in the PWMSA statement. With regard to the demand that the SAPD station commander be released of his duties, Mr Joubert says the TAU SA North would like to support the PWMSA if adequate proof is provided that the station commander broke the law or neglected his duties. However, no solid reason for this demand is given in their media release.

"Is this organisation just another dubious NGO used as a smokescreen for some or other hidden agenda?" he asked. "Surely, if the wellbeing of farm workers were at stake, blatant lies would not be necessary? These outdated freedom fighter tactics surely do nothing to improve the wellbeing of farm dwellers and it shows very little regard for the South African Constitution and legal system and no regard at all for the plain truth," Joubert said.

With regard to earlier reports that an MEC threatened to invade the farm in the Waterpoort area for the purposes of a politically motivated demonstration, Mr Joubert warned that such court-defying politicians must take note that constitutionally obedient structures, such as the Farm Watch, will not allow a Zimbabwean-style breakdown of law and order.