AfriForum Youth on 22 February 2017 directed an urgent letter to the management of the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI) to demand answers after the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) indicated in a letter that it will withdraw all labour, support and cooperation from GADI with regards to livestock, livestock products and all other farming related activities.
In its letter Nehawu also mentions that its support to the mini-farms and trusts of the agricultural college will be withdrawn until the investigation concerning the management of the college that is currently underway is concluded. This investigation includes (to the best of our knowledge) amongst others reportable structures, as well as the management of trusts and livestock.
If the remarks in the letter are already in effect, it can give rise to the fact that students studying at GADI are being deprived of certain practical training; practical training that forms part of the curriculum that they are paying for.
“The situation influences all the students. We have work to do at the mini-farms, but are unable to go there. We are paying for our studies, but aren’t receiving any service,” says Jan-Hendrik Goosen, Chairperson of AfriForum Youth’s Grootfontein branch.