August 1938
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES "ARMS FOR FARMS" PROGRAM
Used military rifles are now to be handed out to farmers.
Thanks to recent advancements the South African militray are now equipped with superior weapons to those used in the recent Portuguese-South Africa war. The Prime Minister Johan van Rensburg has decreed that the previous batch of rifles will be handed out to land owners across the country.
"Its constantly in the back of our mind" van Rensburg explained "At any point we could be the victims of an invasion by European powers. It makes sense to enable our people to defend themselves - with guns. We cannot afford to be unprepared for such an event."
What this transcribes to is the creation of 15 additional reserve milita divisions around the country, mainly in rural areas and along the borders with North and South Rhodesia, Bechuanaland, Tanganyaki and the Belgian Congo. Many of those covered by the program are either veterans from the 2nd Boer war or their direct decendants.
"Afrikaans land owners were the hardest hit by the collapse of the agriculural sector. Those brave men did not fight against British Imperialism to be left behind like that. We must to more to help the hardworking farmers of this great nation."
"In South Africa, under my government, we look after those who risked their lives for this country." van Rensburg explained to the gathered media.
"A lot of focus has gone in to the technological development and industrialization of South Africa. That's somethign we all support. But with our population swelling we need to look again at food production to ensure that every citizen of South Africa is well fed."
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