REOPENING OF LAND CLAIMS FATAL FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S FUTURE

Political parties currently climbing on to the land claims bandwagon are political opportunists guilty of supporting the big lie currently being propagated about the history of land occupation in South Africa.

This lie about the development of South Africa, specifically with regard to land occupation patterns, has been so loudly and relentlessly proclaimed that it is now seen as the truth. In response, TAU SA is on record as being just as persistent in insisting that an independent, preferably international, arbitrator should determine and formalize the narrative of land occupation in South Africa, based on a verifiable history so that these facts can once and for all be substantiated beyond any doubt.

The reopening of land claims is clearly a political football to be used in the run-up to the forthcoming election and will, on the one hand, create unrealistic expectations within the electorate and can on the other hand negatively influence investment confidence.

It is totally unacceptable that land claims are to be extended for another five years. The first claims process which was supposed to be for a five year period was not even finalized after fifteen years. This means that for the next fifteen years, growth in the agricultural sector will again be crippled by this process. This will inevitably lead to food production being hamstrung and hobbled, and South Africa will have to import more food which is what the country is doing at present.

With the rand already weakened due to the government incompetence, it will be the consumer who will bear the brunt of drastically higher food prices. This may lead to a "South African Spring", similar to the Arab Spring and the upheavals in Egypt where increasing food prices led to severe political instability.

We ask whether this new move by the government is about land that will be farmed or is it just another ploy to channel funds to friends so that they can become "empowered"? The state has not been honest right throughout this claims process - it gives new claimants the right to use the land but retains the title deed for itself. This is nothing more than pure communism which in other parts of the world collapsed because it failed the test of time and economic reality. Land which has been handed over by way of restitution results in dead capital from day one. In addition it places the new land occupants in the unenviable position where they do not have enough funding to generate working capital.

In Gauteng province, 95% of the land claimants chose to accept money instead of land during the first round of claims. This new politically-driven process will result in once again more and more claims being made, resulting in the further growth of this cancer within the agricultural economy.

We plead with these political parties to consider their responsibilities with regard to the future of South Africa by halting their emotional and unrealistic appeals where short-term political gains and the garnering of votes can cause immeasurable harm in the long-term.

TAU SA has opened a petition on our webpage where you can pledge your objection to the reopening of the lands claims with the following motivation:

1.  The uncertainty associated with the lands claims and the thread of food insecurity.

2.  Unavailability of the funds therefor.

3.  The fact that the land in the first place is stolen and therefore should be return is false.

If you support our standpoint please sign the petition.

Statement issued by TAU SA, February 18 2014

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