NELSPRUIT – “It is the surest and shortest road to starvation of the masses,” is the view of the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU SA) on the government’s latest land reform proposals.
A special meeting , not only for farmers but all owners of private land, has been called for April 29 in the capital city. According to Mr Danie du Plessis, regional manager of TAU, the purpose of this is to make the public aware of the consequences of what they refer to as a “bouquet of legislation” that is focused on centralised control and ownership of land, especially agricultural land.
The latest government interventions and proposals that TAU SA oppose include:
– The national development plan – It is proposed that the costs of land acquisition will be financed 50% by white commercial farmers (over and above their contributions as taxpayers ) and 50% by the government. District Lands Committees will identify 20% of the farmland in each district for purchase by government for land reform purposes. Land that is already in the market, land held by absentee landlords who are willing to exit, land in deceased estates and land owned by financially stressed farm enterprises will be targeted in the first instance.
– Department of rural development and land reform (DRDLA)– The latest proposals from this quarter states that commercial farmers should give half of their farms to their workers. The historic owners automatically retain half of their farms. The state pays for the 50% taken for the workers. The money is not paid to the current owners, but into trust for all shareholders in the land for further development of the farm.
– Reopening of land claims – The amendment bill on the restitution of lands rights was adopted in parliament in February and sets a new deadline for land claims, namely December 31, 2018. The previous deadline was December 31, 1998.
The TAU SA Eastern Region Mpumalanga who serves the interest of farmers in Mpumalanga is extremely worried about governments actions concerning property rights of farmers as well as private individuals.
The publication “ Final Policy Proposals on Strengthening the Relative Rights of People Working the Land”by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLA) has been seen as an attempt to erode private property rights in South Africa.
According to Dr Frans Cronje, CEO of the South African Institute of Race Relations, leaders in commercial farming and agribusiness have to take a hard line against such legislation, instead, instead of negotiating with government behind closed doors.
This sentiment was shared by the TAU SA who responded to the DRDLA document by saying “ the time has arrived for agriculture, the financial sector, the business sector and everyone who owns property to mobilise and work together to protect private property, the free market system and capitalism in South Africa”
The TAU SA Eastern Region Mpumalanga has in view of the proposals thought it fit to hold a meeting in Nelspruit on the 29 April at the Moth Hall at 14:00. The meeting will be addressed by the senior leadership of TAUSA including, the President of TAU SA Mr Louis Meintjies and the General Manager, Mr Bennie van Zyl.
