Sparks fly over land reform
2003-08-15 22:46
Johannesburg - South Africa's chief land claims commissioner, Tozi Gwanya, says it's the fault of white farmers in Zimbabwe that "the country's land reforms have gone awry".
He said during a discussion of land reform that "white farmers in Zimbabwe had a negative attitude to land reform for the past 20 years. They want to talk now, but it's too late. We can prevent a similar situation if farmers begin to co-operate."
Gwanya says: "Extremely high land prices are making land reform impossible. The government is paying between R1 000 and R4 000/ha, which is already expensive. Now farmers in Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga are asking even more. An example is a farmer who is asking R1.2bn for 150 000 hectares.
Lourie Bosman, vice president of AgriSA, says: "The government cannot pay less than market value for land that's being intensely cultivated, such as sub-tropical fruit. "
Gwanya says white farmers are "unwilling" to sell land. He alleges that the Transvaal Agricultural Union has already established a fund to stop expropriation.
Jack Loggenberg of the Agricultural Union has denied the statement. He says: "Meetings to inform farmers about the Restituion of Land Claims Reform Act have been held and petitions to protest the changes have been signed."
Bosman is concerned about the lack of clear guidelines for the aim of land reform. "It doesn't help if land is given to people, but they won't be able to farm economically sustainable.
Still lying fallow
Edmund Pule of the North West legislator says: "Land in the province given back years ago during land reform, is still lying fallow. People want their land back, but food production may not suffer."
Tempers flared when Michelle Festus of the national land committee said: "Farmers kil farm labourers when they steal a tomato."
Bosman said that such a statement was "very irresponsible. We can ask then what about the farmer who is killed for a chicken in the freezer."
Dr Bertus de Villiers, an advocate in land rights, said: "South Africa did not have enough support structures following re-settlement."
He said it was unrealistic that the land reform process in South Africa had to be completed by 2005, as requested by President Thabo Mbeki. Since 1994, 40 323 out of 79 000 land claims have been completed.
"The extent of land reform in South Africa is 'unique'. If not successful, it will hurt the democratic heart of the country."