Zuma land plan amounts to blackmail - Solidarity
Zuma's land reform plan amounts to a bullying tactic - Solidarity
Pres. Jacob Zuma's new land reform plan amounts to a bullying tactic and will merely shift a large part of the state's responsibility and expense to implement land reform to the commercial agricultural sector, trade union Solidarity said today. Zuma, speaking at the first annual general meeting of the African Farmers' Association of South Africa (Afasa) earlier this week, proposed that each district should establish a district land reform committee where all stakeholders are involved.
Eugene Brink, political analyst at the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), said the plan, in terms of which the land reform committee will arbitrarily identify 20% of the commercial agricultural land in each ‘district' and the state will buy it at 50% of its market value, is not a win-win solution. ‘The plan will benefit upcoming farmers at the expense of established farmers - who are already under pressure - and only if the new farmers are successful. This plan presupposes that farmers who cooperate will not be targeted for land reform again. It sketches a scenario that if commercial farmers assist upcoming farmers to make their farms viable, they will be left alone in future, which amounts to blackmail.'
Brink said the plan further entails that neighbouring farmers will be expected to subsidise the expropriation of land. ‘Farmers who hold on will be penalised and farmers who throw in the towel will be rewarded, which is a warped solution. The state will get bargains from commercial farmers, who bought the land on their own and made it productive, and will make it available to "upcoming farmers" free of charge, thereby distorting the market even further. One can expect with reasonable certainty that the proposed land reform committees will be set up in such a manner that the voices of farmers - the landowners - will be easily muffled.'
According to Brink, Zuma's plan will not resolve the existing problems regarding land reform. ‘Challenges like late or non-payment by the state, corruption, red tape and incompetent officials will not vanish if this plan is put into effect.
‘Land reform is a continuous process that has to be negotiated and factually debated by all stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Such a process can only take place if there is mutual trust and if everyone is involved in the process on an equal footing and receives fair treatment. Pres. Zuma's plan sets unreasonable demands to the commercial sector, creates more questions than answers and presupposes a simple solution for a complex issue.'
Statement issued by Eugene Brink, Political analyst: Solidarity Research Institute, October 24 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
Comments
When will the world realize that black people don’t want to pay or take responsibility for anything. They want everything for free and still have the right to blame the white's or apartheid. This is why were we could have been the breadbasket of the . .more
by fbs on October 25 2012, 05:06
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
What an irritating and opportunistic organisation. They are the National Party masquerading as an advocacy group with a hidden agenda.
by koketso on October 25 2012, 09:10
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
And how did the 'whites' acquire the land, did they pay one dime, let alone killing and stealing?
by Kwame on October 25 2012, 12:25
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
we want the land back,unless you have the proof that you bought the land,if you buy stole property you are also a criminal. LAND FIRST ALL SHALL FOLLOW
by Mothothi on October 25 2012, 13:30
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
Farming is hard work comrades. Rather get yourself into a nice job with a government department where you can negotiate some profitable tenders.
by No such thing as a free lunch on October 25 2012, 17:57
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
Get a life and don't repeat yourself: this is an old comment!
All the land in South Africa will not make you into farmers. It is too much like hard work, and god forbid that you do something. Look at the homelands, and I rest my case.
by YAHOO on October 25 2012, 22:50
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
@koketso: your comnent is not helpful. Pls deal with Brink's point
@kwame: Are you saying NO commercial farmers have EVER paid for their farms? Do you have any proof for this bru?
@Mothothi: suggst you check with uKwame: According to him . .more
by CM on October 25 2012, 22:56
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
The problem isn't land its the will to work. Land ought not to be given to all & sundry it needs to be given to people who will work the land and produce food for us. I have no problem with them all being black but I do have a problem distributing . .more
by Oblio on October 26 2012, 00:07
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it