White farmers 'must be frank'

2005-07-29 21:51

Johannesburg - White farmers can be assured that their views on land reform will be taken into account, the agriculture and land affairs department said on Friday.

"We can assure them. They must be frank, fearless and open about their views," said agriculture director-general Masiphula Mbongwa.

He and land director-general Glen Thomas were briefing reporters at the Land Summit being held in Johannesburg.

Mbongwa said that by inviting organisations representing white farmers to the summit, it showed that their concerns would be taken seriously.

He said input from all stakeholders was important because it would minimise future errors.

The five-day summit, which ends on Sunday, has heard many people asking that the current willing-buyer, willing-seller principle be scrapped as it was slowing land reform.

Market system

Others have complained about the current market system, saying it favours farmers.

The first day of the meeting was dominated by the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle with deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka saying it was slowing down land reform.

She told delegates the principle would have to be revisited as the state was the only buyer, and farmers often asked exorbitant prices for their land.

Land affairs minister Thoko Didiza also raised concerns about the concept, saying the state should be allowed to influence how the markets work.

The government wants all land restitution claims settled within the next three years, and 30 percent of agricultural land to be delivered to blacks by 2014. By December 2004, only three percent of commercial farm land had been redistributed.

Opposition

Most of the opposition political parties and bodies representing white farmers at the summit are against scrapping the principle.

AgriSA director Hans van der Merwe said on Wednesday it was reasonable for land owners to expect a market-related price for land they had to part with, and this was best determined by the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle.

Asked what the government would be doing about the principle, Thomas said there was a general consensus that the concept had to be revisited.

- SAPA