The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) has laid a complaint of hate speech against Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana and her deputy Dirk du Toit with the Human Rights Commission.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) has laid a complaint of hate speech against Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana and her deputy Dirk du Toit with the Human Rights Commission.

This follows comments by Du Toit in parliament last week that farmers treated their workers badly and the minister's threat of expropriating their farms.

"Both the minister and deputy minister often threaten farmers with expropriation of their land," FF+ spokesman Pieter Groenewald said.

The latest threat was that farmers who treated their workers poorly would have their land expropriated.

These threats carried the element of retribution and created the impression that retribution against such farmers was justified.

"These statements are irresponsible and boil down to hate speech. Emotions were aroused and recent events in KwaZulu-Natal, where a farmer was threatened with eviction, confirmed emotion-rousing.

"With these comments the farming community is being singled. There are many companies and businesses that treat their workers badly or even worse.

"In reply to several of my questions in parliament on evictions, the minister acknowledged that accurate figures could not be given.

"Comments and threats are made by the minister and her deputy which are not properly founded on facts and verified," Groenewald said. - Sapa