Fritz “Majeke” Joubert, 45, who sent shock waves through the country this weekend with the murder of traditional leader Anele Hoyana, 40, was not a farmer.
Agri Eastern Cape said in a statement that Joubert was a subcontractor for Eskom, who lived on a small “lifestyle estate”.
Agri Eastern Cape president Doug Stern says they regard Joubert’s actions as shocking.
The statement emphasizes that Joubert was not a farmer or a member of any agricultural organization.
“To refer to him as a farmer to incite anger towards the farming community is irresponsible and undermines the efforts of real farmers to build an inclusive and non-racial sector.”
Stern says the events – of which Joubert posted videos on social media before he was shot dead by police – will anger any normal person, but it should be viewed as an isolated incident and the actions of a disturbed person.
“What happened is tragic, but we must guard against turning the public’s opinion against farmers to score cheap political points.
“We trust that the police will investigate the matter thoroughly, as well as the events that led to Joubert’s actions,” the statement said.
Joubert, owner of Geluksdal just outside Gonubie in the Eastern Cape, made the news when he posted videos on social media on Saturday of how he assaulted Hoyana. This apparently happened after a cleansing ceremony went awry. Hoyana trained Joubert as a sangoma and he, his wife and two children lived temporarily on Joubert’s land.
