Senwes Scenario December 2017 - March 2018 | Page 4

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IT CERTAINLY DID NOT GO UNNOTICED AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW PEOPLE CAN UNITE .

Although Mondays are normally known as blue Mondays , the Monday of 30 October 2017 was characterised by numerous South Africans wearing black against the wave of crime and violence in our country . Large numbers of people , tractors , harvesters , bakkies and other farm implements occupied the country ' s roads as a sign of peaceful unity . Senwes had a number of prayer meetings , at head office and at various business units , to pray for God ' s guidance through this very difficult ordeal .

And may I say , it is about time for South Africa and the agricultural sector to unite . The reason why people wore black clothes or even black armbands made me think of the history of people wearing black . Centuries ago , women used to wear black after the death of a spouse for a period of up to two years . It is interesting that armbands came into use at the end of the 19th century . Long-sleeved shirts came

South Africa unites for producers

in one size only , with very long sleeves . The armband made it possible for each person to adjust the length of his shirt sleeves .
In the Western culture the norm is to wear black in memory of the family member , friend or acquaintance who died . Armbands later became part of a person ' s rank or to indicate that someone was a member of a specific group . During later years the captains of sports teams were identified by such bands as well .
As far as colours are concerned , it is interesting that purple was worn by women in the 19th century after the two-year period of grieving , and before they started to wear their normal clothes - a type of a transition period . Two synthetic purple colouring agents were developed during this time .
It is very positive for people to unite , but the reality is that there still is lot of hard work to be done to change the situation . If the safety of the broader community does not improve , the safety of producers will not improve . The total community will not be safe if the safety of producers does not receive the necessary attention .
Aubrey Kruger
EDITOR editor in chief Marlon Abrahams Tel : 018 464 7349 marlon . abrahams @ senwes . co . za
editor Aubrey Kruger Tel : 018 464 7449 aubrey . kruger @ senwes . co . za
advertisements Mariëtte Hugo Tel : 018 464 7505 mariette . hugo @ senwes . co . za
design and layout Mercia Venter mercia . venter @ senwes . co . za
contributors Marlon Abrahams , ds Carel Botma , Ds Willie Botha , Lucas Coetsee , Carl Kirstein , Carl Fourie , Stephan Geldenhuys , Thys Grobbelaar , Jenny Matthews , Susari Geldenhuys , Senwes Grainlink , Jan Serfontein , Johan van den Berg , Petrus van Staden and Milanie Vosloo .
subscription Marie Erasmus Tel : 018 464 7568 Faks : 018 464 7772 marie . erasmus @ senwes . co . za
owner Senwes , PO Box 31 , Klerksdorp , 2570 Tel : 018 464 7800
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DEC 2017-MAR 2018 • SENWES Scenario