How AfriForum’s ‘expropriation list’ devastated two farmers By Pieter du Toit - via News24.com

Afrikaner rights group AfriForum’s release of an unverified and disputed list that purports to denote farms targeted for expropriation without compensation has led to millions of rands in possible losses for at least two farmers whose properties are named in the document.

Louis Hauman, a cattle farmer north of Kuruman in the Northern Cape, told News24 he was in the process of negotiating the sale of his farm of more than 6 000 hectares with two potential buyers when AfriForum released the list. The offers on the table were immediately withdrawn.

“AfriForum caused me a lot of damage,” Hauman said on Thursday.

Ferdie Klopper, a farmer in the Kroonstad district, who has also been trying to sell his property, said: “this publication of this list has damaged me”. “My farm, and possibly those of my neighbours too, is now a target. I will struggle to sell the farm on the open market.”

Land is not simply for the taking – Agri SA Politics Web - Thea Liebenberg

Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha reportedly said yesterday during a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform that the ANC would hold a conference in March to discuss expropriation without compensation and that the decision would afterwards be implemented by all relevant state departments. He was cited as saying that the ANC would determine whose land to take and how it would be done. However, Mr Ernest Pringle, chair of Agri SA’s land centre of excellence, said land would not be simply for the taking. This was also not a decision that the ANC can take unilaterally and simply start implementing.

No expropriation without compensation can take place unless the Constitution is amended, said Pringle. This will be a time-consuming process during which wide consultation must take place and which would require the necessary majority of votes in Parliament in favour thereof. Private property rights are an internationally recognised principle that is protected by international human rights instruments, such as article 17 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, the treats of expropriation without compensation is contrary to the policies adopted by vital international agencies such as the World Bank and the IMF. The economic impact of “taking” land will be catastrophic, as already pointed out by various economists. The poor will be affected worst by the outcome of such an irresponsible step, added Pringle.

“This type of statement issued by politicians plays into the hands of opportunists who want to use it as an excuse to invade land. It is extremely dangerous.”

Grondhervorming deur Omri van Zyl Agri SA

Framework is the Constitution which provides for the protection of property rights, but also mandates certain land reform measures. Three broad programmes of land reform in terms of the Constitution: Restitution; Redistribution; and Tenure Reform. Each of these programmes really need to be examined separately to understand to what extent they have succeeded or failed and why. Twenty three years down the line there is huge frustration about the lack of progress and the extent to which land reform has met peoples’ expectations. Land reform has indeed become a political football and that is very dangerous, for the sector, for the value-chain and for the country.

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South Africa: Agri-Parks Will Help Your Farmers Farming Portal

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