The TAU SA this week strongly reacted to a warning by the Levubu SAPS that they would act against any person caught using a green light.

A letter from the Levubu SAPS was delivered to the house of Mr Stephen Hoffman, member of the Levubu CPF and chairperson of TAU SA North Levubu branch on April 25.

In the letter, the SAPS states that the use of all green lights must be stopped and warned that JS 34 will be issued to those persons who do not comply. The letter further asks that "all farmers be informed about the content of this letter; and that discussion with the public prosecutor must take place."

Mr Hoffman replied by stating that the union took note of the threat from the SAPS that ‘Green lights to be stopped and JS34 will be issued’.

"The question remains which legislation will be used to issue the JS34?" he asked. He also made it clear that the use of the green lights was a decision made on national level and said that the unacceptable behaviour of the SAPS is clearly an attempt to intimidate farmers.

"The huge success of the farm watch is clearly a threat to the ineffective SAPS," Hoffman said. He informed the SAPS that the ‘huge success of the farm watch will make sure that the green lights are here to stay’.

The Chairperson of the TAU SA North, Mr Dries Joubert, also reacted and expressed his concern with the actions of the SAPS.

"The spirit of cooperation between the farm watch and Levubu SAPS was very good for a number of years but it seems as if the old animosity is coming back," Joubert said. He called upon the SAPS in Levubu to take hands with the farm watch, CPF and other community structures to combat crime.

"The SAPS and the community should work together to bring safety to the community and not to allow politics to influence their duty to the community," Joubert said.